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

Preuss's Swallow

Petrochelidon preussi

A small, colonial swallow distinguished by its square tail and pale rump, frequently found nesting on human infrastructure across sub-Saharan Africa.

What it sounds like

A high-pitched, rapid twittering and soft warbling notes typical of colonial martins.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:37

Rec. Rolf A. de By · GhanaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Constructs elaborate retort-shaped mud nests that often feature a distinct entrance tunnel.
Highly gregarious breeder, forming massive colonies that can occasionally exceed 1,000 pairs.
Exhibits nomadic or migratory movements within Africa, often dictated by seasonal rainfall patterns.
Frequently utilizes bridges, culverts, and building eaves as modern substitutes for natural cliff faces.
Forages socially in large flocks, often mixing with other swallows and swifts to hunt aerial insects.

Habitat

Open savanna, woodland edges, and urban areas, typically near water sources or bridges.

Range

West and Central Africa, ranging from Guinea and Sierra Leone east to Chad and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Cave SwallowPetrochelidon fulva Chestnut-collared SwallowPetrochelidon rufocollaris Cliff SwallowPetrochelidon pyrrhonota Fairy MartinPetrochelidon ariel Red Sea SwallowPetrochelidon perdita Red-throated SwallowPetrochelidon rufigula South African SwallowPetrochelidon spilodera Streak-throated SwallowPetrochelidon fluvicola

Heard a Preuss's Swallow?

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