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

Spotless Starling

Sturnus unicolor

The Spotless Starling is a sleek, non-migratory passerine that replaces the Common Starling across the Iberian Peninsula and North Africa. It is characterized by its uniform, glossy black plumage that lacks the typical pale spotting of its close relative.

What it sounds like

A complex series of loud whistles, clicks, and rattling notes, often including sophisticated mimicry of other bird species.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Esperanza Poveda · SpainCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Unlike the Common Starling, this species is largely sedentary and does not undergo long-distance seasonal migrations.
During the breeding season, adults develop long, shaggy throat feathers known as hackles, which are prominently displayed during song.
Males are known to incorporate aromatic green plants into their nests to attract females and potentially reduce parasite loads.
It hybridizes with the Common Starling in a narrow contact zone located in Northeast Spain and Southern France.
The species is highly social and often forms massive, synchronized roosting flocks in urban areas during the winter months.

Habitat

Open woodlands, agricultural pastures, rocky cliffs, and urban parks.

Range

Iberian Peninsula, Northwest Africa, Sicily, Sardinia, and Corsica.

Similar & commonly confused birds

European StarlingSturnus vulgaris

Heard a Spotless Starling?

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