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

Purple Needletail

Hirundapus celebensis

A massive, powerful swift characterized by its dark, iridescent plumage and exceptional aerial velocity. It is one of the largest members of the Apodidae family, distinguished by its barrel-shaped body and white loral patches.

What it sounds like

A series of rapid, high-pitched chattering notes and shrill, piercing screams delivered during high-speed chases.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:08

Rec. Greg Irving · PhilippinesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is recognized as one of the largest swifts in the world, reaching lengths of up to 25 centimeters.
The tail feathers feature protruding rachis tips that create a needle-like appearance, used for stabilization when roosting on vertical surfaces.
Like its relatives in the genus Hirundapus, it is capable of reaching extremely high speeds in level flight, among the fastest recorded for any bird.
It possesses a distinct white 'horseshoe' marking on the underparts and prominent white patches between the eyes and the bill.
The species is largely aerial, spending the vast majority of its life airborne and even drinking on the wing by skimming water surfaces.

Habitat

Lowland and montane evergreen forests, often observed foraging over forest canopies, ridges, and open water.

Range

Found throughout the Philippines and parts of Indonesia, including Sulawesi and the Sula Islands.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Brown-backed NeedletailHirundapus giganteus Silver-backed NeedletailHirundapus cochinchinensis White-throated NeedletailHirundapus caudacutus

Heard a Purple Needletail?

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