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

Sharpe's Longclaw

Macronyx sharpei

Sharpe's Longclaw is a shy, ground-dwelling passerine endemic to the high-altitude grasslands of Kenya, recognized by its streaked plumage and bright yellow underparts.

What it sounds like

A thin, high-pitched 'tseee-yu' whistle and a short, melodic warbling song often delivered during a low-level display flight.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Alwin van Lubeck · KenyaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is globally classified as Endangered, with a rapidly declining population due to the conversion of native grasslands into agricultural fields.
The species possesses an elongated hind claw, a specialized adaptation for stability while walking across dense tussock grasses.
Unlike many montane birds, it is strictly sedentary and does not perform altitudinal or latitudinal migrations.
The bird is named in honor of Richard Bowdler Sharpe, a prominent 19th-century British ornithologist at the British Museum.
It acts as a key indicator species for the health of Kenya's afro-alpine and montane grassland ecosystems.

Habitat

Open, short-grass tussock grasslands located at elevations between 1,850 and 3,400 meters.

Range

Endemic to the highlands of central and western Kenya.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Abyssinian LongclawMacronyx flavicollis Fülleborn's LongclawMacronyx fuelleborni Grimwood's LongclawMacronyx grimwoodi Orange-throated LongclawMacronyx capensis Pangani LongclawMacronyx aurantiigula Rosy-throated LongclawMacronyx ameliae Rosy-throated LongclawMacronyx ameliae Yellow-throated LongclawMacronyx croceus

Heard a Sharpe's Longclaw?

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Identify a bird by its song