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-throated Swallow

Petrochelidon rufigula

A small, colonial African swallow characterized by its vibrant rufous throat and square-tipped tail.

What it sounds like

A rapid, high-pitched series of twittering and squeaky notes.

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 constructs gourd-shaped mud nests, often packed closely together in large colonies on vertical surfaces.
The species is highly aerial, foraging for flying insects primarily over open savannas and water bodies.
It is a partial migrant within Sub-Saharan Africa, moving in response to seasonal rainfall patterns.
Nesting sites have increasingly shifted from natural rocky cliffs to man-made structures like bridges and dams.
It is distinguished from similar swallows by its deep rufous-colored throat that extends to the upper breast.

Habitat

Open grasslands, rocky outcrops, and human infrastructure near water.

Range

Central and Western Africa, ranging from Angola and Gabon to Zambia.

Similar & commonly confused birds

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

Heard a Red-throated 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