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

Red Sea Swallow

Petrochelidon perdita

The Red Sea Swallow is an enigmatic and poorly understood hirundine, primarily known to science from a single type specimen collected in Sudan.

What it sounds like

Undocumented; there are no known recordings or descriptions of its vocalizations.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

No reference call found yet · Xeno-canto

Field notes

The species was described based on a single specimen found dead at the Sanganeb Lighthouse in May 1984.
Its taxonomic status is debated, with some experts suggesting it may represent a subspecies of Preuss's Swallow or a hybrid.
The IUCN Red List categorizes the bird as Data Deficient due to the extreme lack of confirmed sightings or breeding records.
Morphologically, it is distinguished by its pale grayish-blue rump and dark, smudged throat patterns compared to other cliff swallows.
While unconfirmed sightings have been reported in Saudi Arabia and Israel, no definitive population has ever been located.

Habitat

Presumed to inhabit rocky coastal cliffs or marine islands, though specific breeding sites are unknown.

Range

Red Sea basin, with the only confirmed record occurring in Sudan.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Cave SwallowPetrochelidon fulva Chestnut-collared SwallowPetrochelidon rufocollaris Cliff SwallowPetrochelidon pyrrhonota Fairy MartinPetrochelidon ariel Preuss's SwallowPetrochelidon preussi Red-throated SwallowPetrochelidon rufigula South African SwallowPetrochelidon spilodera Streak-throated SwallowPetrochelidon fluvicola

Heard a Red Sea Swallow?

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