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

Miombo Rock-Thrush

Monticola angolensis

A colorful, medium-sized thrush-like bird that is uniquely specialized for the broadleaf woodlands of south-central Africa rather than rocky terrain.

What it sounds like

A series of clear, melodic, fluted whistles and warbles, often delivered from a high canopy perch.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Dries Van de Loock · ZambiaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is the only member of the Monticola genus that is strictly associated with woodland environments instead of rocky outcrops.
The species displays sexual dimorphism, with the male featuring a powder-blue head and mantle contrasted against an orange-rufous belly.
It is a sedentary resident across its range, rarely moving far from its established breeding territory in Miombo woodland.
Foraging is typically done by pouncing on terrestrial invertebrates from a low-level perch, a behavior known as 'drop-hunting'.
Unlike many other thrushes, it frequently nests in natural tree hollows or holes excavated by barbets or woodpeckers.

Habitat

Mature Miombo (Brachystegia) and other broadleaf deciduous woodlands.

Range

South-central Africa, spanning from Angola and southern DRC to Zimbabwe, Malawi, and western Mozambique.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Amber Mountain Rock-ThrushMonticola erythronotus Blue Rock-ThrushMonticola solitarius Blue-capped Rock-ThrushMonticola cinclorhyncha Cape Rock-ThrushMonticola rupestris Chestnut-bellied Rock-ThrushMonticola rufiventris Forest Rock-ThrushMonticola sharpei Little Rock-ThrushMonticola rufocinereus Littoral Rock-ThrushMonticola imerina

Heard a Miombo Rock-Thrush?

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Identify a bird by its song