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 Roller

Coracias naevius

The Purple Roller is the largest and most robust member of the roller family in Africa, distinguished by its dusky, streaked plumage and aggressive territorial behavior.

What it sounds like

A loud, raucous, and repetitive 'ga-ga-ga' or a harsh, grating 'kraaa-kraaa'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Romuald Mikusek · GambiaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is the most heavily built of all rollers, possessing a notably stout black bill and a shorter tail compared to its relatives.
Unlike the brilliant blues of other rollers, its plumage is dominated by rufous-purple tones with prominent white vertical streaking on the underparts.
During courtship, it performs a characteristic 'rolling' flight, rocking violently from side to side while emitting harsh vocalizations.
It is highly opportunistic and will frequently hunt near bushfires to catch fleeing insects, scorpions, and small vertebrates.
They are solitary nesters that typically utilize natural tree cavities or abandoned woodpecker holes situated high above the ground.

Habitat

Dry savanna, bushy thornveld, and semi-arid open woodlands.

Range

Sub-Saharan Africa, ranging from Senegal east to Ethiopia and south to northern South Africa and Namibia.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Abyssinian RollerCoracias abyssinicus Blue-bellied RollerCoracias cyanogaster European RollerCoracias garrulus Indian RollerCoracias benghalensis Indochinese RollerCoracias affinis Lilac-breasted RollerCoracias caudatus Purple RollerCoracias naevius Purple-winged RollerCoracias temminckii

Heard a Purple Roller?

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