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

Rwenzori Hill Babbler

Sylvia atriceps

A small, skulking Afromontane specialist characterized by its striking black hood and preference for dense montane undergrowth.

What it sounds like

A rich, musical warble consisting of fluid, varied notes often mixed with dry, rasping scold calls.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Peter Boesman · UgandaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

Despite its common name, genetic studies moved this species from the babbler family (Timaliidae) to the Old World warbler genus Sylvia.
The species exhibits sexual dimorphism, with males sporting a jet-black cap while females have a dark charcoal-gray crown.
It is a sedentary montane endemic, rarely moving far from its established territory within high-altitude forests.
They are frequent participants in mixed-species foraging flocks, often acting as nuclear species that help move the group through dense cover.
Its diet is primarily insectivorous, though it is known to supplement its meals with small berries and fruits.

Habitat

Afromontane evergreen forest, bamboo thickets, and dense secondary growth.

Range

Albertine Rift mountains of Uganda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Burundi.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Abyssinian CatbirdSylvia galinieri African Hill BabblerSylvia abyssinica Bush BlackcapSylvia nigricapillus Dohrn's Thrush-BabblerSylvia dohrni Eurasian BlackcapSylvia atricapilla Garden WarblerSylvia borin

Heard a Rwenzori Hill Babbler?

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