How accurate is Birdsong's bird identifier?

It runs Google's Perch, a research-grade acoustic model covering nearly 15,000 species. When a call is ambiguous, we say so honestly and let you record a second clip to confirm, rather than guessing.

Is my recording stored?

No. Your audio is used to identify the bird in the moment and isn't saved to our servers. The birds you confirm are kept as cards in your own field journal; the recordings themselves are not.

Is the bird identifier free?

Yes — identify birds every day for free, no account required. Birdsong Pro ($3.99/mo or $39.99/yr) unlocks unlimited IDs, full field guides, your growing collection, and shareable Field Report cards.

Do I need an account or internet to identify a bird?

You'll need a connection to identify, since the AI runs in the cloud. No account is needed to try it — sign in with Google or email to save your field journal and sync it across devices.

Birdsong field guide

Madagascar Fish-Eagle

Icthyophaga vociferoides

The Madagascar Fish-Eagle is a critically endangered raptor and the largest bird of prey endemic to Madagascar. It is a close relative of the African Fish-Eagle, occupying a specialized niche as the island's apex avian aquatic predator.

What it sounds like

A loud, penetrating, and melodic 'ko-ko-koy-koy-koy' similar to the African Fish-Eagle but higher in pitch.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

No reference call found yet · Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is one of the rarest birds of prey in the world, with a population estimated at only about 120 breeding pairs.
The species often practices obligate siblicide, where the older chick kills the younger sibling to ensure its own survival.
It is a sedentary species that rarely travels far from its established aquatic territory once a pair bond is formed.
Conservationists have utilized 'chick-rescue' programs, taking the second-hatched chick to be hand-reared to bypass natural siblicide.
It is primarily a fish-eater, diving from a perch to snatch prey from the water's surface with powerful talons.

Habitat

Large lakes, broad rivers, and coastal mangroves adjacent to dry deciduous forests.

Range

Endemic to the western and northwestern coastlines and wetlands of Madagascar.

Similar & commonly confused birds

African Fish-EagleIcthyophaga vocifer Gray-headed Fish-EagleIcthyophaga ichthyaetus Lesser Fish-EagleIcthyophaga humilis Sanford's Sea-EagleIcthyophaga sanfordi White-bellied Sea-EagleIcthyophaga leucogaster

Heard a Madagascar Fish-Eagle?

Open Birdsong, tap record, and identify the bird singing near you in seconds — then collect it in your field journal.

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