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

Somali Ostrich

Struthio molybdophanes

A massive flightless ratite native to the Horn of Africa, distinguished from the Common Ostrich by its distinct blue-grey skin and ecological niche.

What it sounds like

A deep, resonant, three-syllable booming call produced by males, often resembling a distant lion's roar.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Andrew Spencer · EthiopiaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

The skin on the neck and thighs is a slate-blue color, which turns a vivid bright blue on males during the breeding season.
Unlike its relatives, it lacks the prominent white ring at the base of the neck, possessing a more uniform transition from feathers to skin.
It was formally recognized as a distinct species in 2014, having been previously classified as a subspecies of Struthio camelus.
The species is geographically isolated from the Common Ostrich by the East African Rift, preventing significant interbreeding in the wild.
Its feathers are structurally unique among birds, lacking the microscopic hooks (barbicels) that normally zip feathers together for flight.

Habitat

Arid and semi-arid bushlands, thornscrub, and open savannas with low-growing vegetation.

Range

Horn of Africa, primarily including Somalia, Ethiopia, Djibouti, and northeastern Kenya.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Common OstrichStruthio camelus

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