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

Maratua Shama

Copsychus barbouri

A large, long-tailed songbird endemic to the Maratua archipelago, recognized for its striking black and chestnut plumage and melodious song.

What it sounds like

A complex series of rich, flute-like whistles and melodic phrases, often described as deeper and more powerful than the song of the White-rumped Shama.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

No reference call found yet · Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is significantly larger and possesses a longer tail than the closely related White-rumped Shama.
The species is currently classified as Endangered due to its restricted range and extreme pressure from the illegal cage-bird trade.
Unlike many other shama species, the Maratua Shama lacks white coloration on its outer tail feathers, possessing an entirely black tail.
It was historically treated as a subspecies of Copsychus malabaricus but was elevated to species status based on distinct morphological and vocal characteristics.
The bird's global range is limited to Maratua Island and a few tiny adjacent islets, covering a total area of less than 160 square kilometers.

Habitat

Tropical lowland moist forests and dense secondary scrubland.

Range

Maratua Island, Derawan Archipelago, off the coast of East Kalimantan, Indonesia.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Andaman ShamaCopsychus albiventris Black ShamaCopsychus cebuensis Indian RobinCopsychus fulicatus Kangean ShamaCopsychus nigricauda Kangean ShamaCopsychus nigricauda Larwo ShamaCopsychus omissus Madagascar Magpie-RobinCopsychus albospecularis Oriental Magpie-RobinCopsychus saularis

Heard a Maratua Shama?

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