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

Rufous-sided Broadbill

Smithornis rufolateralis

A secretive, stocky suboscine of African rainforest understories, best known for the males' mechanical wing-drumming displays. It features a broad bill and distinctive rufous flank patches that are often hidden until the bird is active or displaying.

What it sounds like

A sharp, mechanical, buzzing 'kwee-ik' or 'vrr-ip' sound produced aerodynamically by the wings during a short circular flight.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 1:32

Rec. Paul Lenrumé · GabonCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

The species produces a loud, mechanical sound during display by vibrating specialized primary feathers while flying in a small circle.
Unlike most passerines, it belongs to the family Calyptomenidae, making it more closely related to Asian green broadbills than typical songbirds.
The nest is a pendulous, pear-shaped structure composed of moss and lichen, usually suspended over water or a forest clearing.
The rufous patches on the flanks are often concealed by the wing coverts, appearing only when the bird fluffs its feathers or displays.
It is primarily an insectivore that hunts via 'sally-gleaning,' snatching prey from the undersides of leaves in mid-air.

Habitat

Lowland primary and secondary evergreen rainforest, particularly near swampy areas or dense undergrowth.

Range

West and Central Africa, ranging from Sierra Leone east to western Uganda and south to northern Angola.

Similar & commonly confused birds

African BroadbillSmithornis capensis Gray-headed BroadbillSmithornis sharpei

Heard a Rufous-sided Broadbill?

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