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

Ring-necked Dove

Streptopelia capicola

A ubiquitous medium-sized dove of sub-Saharan Africa, characterized by its pale brownish-grey plumage and a distinctive black crescent on the hindneck.

What it sounds like

A repetitive, rhythmic triple-syllabled 'cuk-coo-cu' with the emphasis on the second syllable.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:26

Rec. Marc Anderson · BotswanaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

The species is renowned for its rhythmic three-syllable call, frequently mnemonicized as 'How’s fa-ther?' or 'Work hard-er.'
It performs a dramatic display flight where the male climbs steeply before gliding down in a circular path with stiffly held wings.
Unlike many birds, it can drink by sucking up water continuously without needing to tilt its head back to swallow.
Its dark brown irises are a key field mark for distinguishing it from the similar Red-eyed Dove, which possesses red irises.
They are highly adaptable granivores that often congregate in large numbers around waterholes, especially in arid regions.

Habitat

Savanna, open woodlands, agricultural land, and suburban gardens.

Range

Southern and Eastern Africa.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Adamawa Turtle-DoveStreptopelia hypopyrrha African Collared-DoveStreptopelia roseogrisea Burmese Collared-DoveStreptopelia xanthocycla Dusky Turtle-DoveStreptopelia lugens Eurasian Collared-DoveStreptopelia decaocto European Turtle-DoveStreptopelia turtur Mourning Collared-DoveStreptopelia decipiens Oriental Turtle-DoveStreptopelia orientalis

Heard a Ring-necked Dove?

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