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

Upcher's Warbler

Hippolais languida

A large, robust Old World warbler characterized by its heavy bill, drab grey-brown plumage, and distinctive downward tail-pumping behavior.

What it sounds like

A slow, deliberate, and rhythmic song composed of melodic jerky phrases, often interspersed with harsh 'tack' or 'chack' alarm notes.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Stanislas Wroza · OmanCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Named after Henry Morris Upcher, a 19th-century British naturalist and explorer.
It is the largest member of the Hippolais genus, featuring a notably long and heavy bill.
Unlike many relatives, it frequently pumps its tail downwards, a movement reminiscent of a wheatear.
It is a long-distance migrant, traveling between Western Asian breeding grounds and East African wintering quarters.
The nest is a deep, sturdy cup often meticulously bound with spider silk and placed in thorny shrubs.

Habitat

Dry, rocky hillsides with scattered scrub, semi-desert bushy areas, and arid orchards.

Range

Breeds from Turkey and the Levant through Iraq and Iran to Central Asia; winters in East Africa.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Icterine WarblerHippolais icterina Melodious WarblerHippolais polyglotta Olive-tree WarblerHippolais olivetorum

Heard a Upcher's Warbler?

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