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-vented Bulbul

Pycnonotus cafer

A conspicuous and vocal medium-sized songbird recognized by its dark scaly plumage and distinctive crimson undertail coverts.

What it sounds like

A series of cheery, sharp, liquid notes often transcribed as 'be-care-ful' or 'quick-quick-quick'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:12

Rec. Thet Zaw Naing · MyanmarCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Identified by a short, bushy crest and a dark head that contrasts with its brownish, scale-patterned body.
Categorized as one of the world's 100 worst invasive alien species due to its impact on native ecosystems.
Unlike many songbirds, they are largely unable to synthesize Vitamin C and must obtain it through their diet.
They exhibit highly aggressive territorial behavior, often driving away larger birds and even small mammals.
Their nests are typically cup-shaped structures built low in bushes, sometimes incorporating man-made materials like plastic or thread.

Habitat

Open woodlands, scrub, agricultural lands, and densely populated urban gardens.

Range

Native to the Indian subcontinent; widely introduced across the Pacific islands, Middle East, and parts of the United States.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Aceh BulbulPycnonotus snouckaerti Ashy-fronted BulbulPycnonotus cinereifrons Ayeyarwady BulbulPycnonotus blanfordi Black-fronted BulbulPycnonotus nigricans Brown-breasted BulbulPycnonotus xanthorrhous Cape BulbulPycnonotus capensis Common BulbulPycnonotus barbatus Cream-eyed BulbulPycnonotus pseudosimplex

Heard a Red-vented Bulbul?

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