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

Magpie Shrike

Urolestes melanoleucus

The Magpie Shrike is a large, highly social passerine of the African savanna, distinguished by its striking black-and-white plumage and an exceptionally long, graduated tail.

What it sounds like

A loud and musical series of liquid whistles, often described as 'pee-loo' or 'phee-whee', typically delivered in a noisy group chorus.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Marc Anderson · South AfricaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

The tail is remarkably long, often measuring up to 30 centimeters and comprising nearly two-thirds of the bird's total length.
Unlike many other shrike species, they are highly gregarious and live in stable cooperative groups of up to 12 individuals.
They practice cooperative breeding, where group members assist the dominant pair in defending the nest and feeding the young.
While they are primarily insectivorous, they are opportunistic predators known to take small lizards, birds, and rodents.
They rarely utilize the typical shrike 'larder' behavior of impaling prey on thorns, preferring to consume food immediately after capture.

Habitat

Dry acacia woodlands, thornveld, and open savanna with scattered trees.

Range

East and Southern Africa, ranging from Kenya and Tanzania south to South Africa and west to Namibia.

Heard a Magpie Shrike?

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

Identify a bird by its song