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

Mariana Swiftlet

Aerodramus bartschi

A small, dark aerial insectivore endemic to the Mariana Islands, notable for its ability to navigate aphotic cave environments using echolocation.

What it sounds like

High-pitched, buzzy twittering and rapid metallic clicks used for both social communication and sonar navigation.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

No reference call found yet · Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is one of the few bird species globally capable of echolocation, utilizing audible clicking sounds to fly in total darkness.
The species was successfully introduced to the island of Oahu, Hawaii, in the 1960s to assist with insect control.
Nests are small, bracket-shaped cups made of moss and grasses held together by the bird's own hardening saliva.
Unlike many other swifts, they frequently forage in groups over ridge lines and forest canopies throughout the day.
The population on Guam was nearly extirpated due to predation by the invasive brown tree snake and historical pesticide exposure.

Habitat

Limestone caves for nesting and roosting; forages over native forests, grasslands, and coastal areas.

Range

Southern Mariana Islands (Guam, Saipan, Aguiguan, Tinian) and Oahu, Hawaii.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Ameline SwiftletAerodramus amelis Atiu SwiftletAerodramus sawtelli Australian SwiftletAerodramus terraereginae Bare-legged SwiftletAerodramus nuditarsus Black-nest SwiftletAerodramus maximus Caroline Islands SwiftletAerodramus inquietus Himalayan SwiftletAerodramus brevirostris Indian SwiftletAerodramus unicolor

Heard a Mariana Swiftlet?

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