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

Shiny Cowbird

Molothrus bonariensis

A medium-sized icterid renowned for its glossy iridescent plumage and its role as a prolific obligate brood parasite. It is a highly adaptable species that has significantly expanded its range across the Americas.

What it sounds like

A complex series of bubbly, liquid gurgles and squeaks, often ending in a high-pitched, ascending whistle.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 9:29

Rec. Cristian Pinto Fernandez · ChileCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is an obligate brood parasite, documented laying eggs in the nests of over 250 different host bird species.
Females often engage in 'egg-pecking,' where they puncture or remove host eggs to reduce competition for their own chicks.
The species displays strong sexual dimorphism; males are a silky, iridescent purple-black, while females are a duller grayish-brown.
Egg appearance is highly polymorphic, ranging from immaculate white to heavily spotted, likely an adaptation to mimic diverse host species.
Originally native to South America, it successfully colonized the West Indies and reached the southeastern United States by the 1980s.

Habitat

Open fields, pastures, agricultural lands, forest edges, and suburban gardens.

Range

Widespread across South America, the Caribbean, and the southeastern United States.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Bronzed CowbirdMolothrus aeneus Brown-headed CowbirdMolothrus ater Giant CowbirdMolothrus oryzivorus Screaming CowbirdMolothrus rufoaxillaris

Heard a Shiny Cowbird?

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