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

White-chested Swift

Cypseloides lemosi

The White-chested Swift is a medium-sized, soot-colored aerial insectivore best identified by a distinct white patch on its upper breast.

What it sounds like

A series of high-pitched, buzzy 'chip' notes and rapid, thin twittering.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:14

Rec. Mitch Lysinger · EcuadorCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It was only formally described by science in 1991, making it one of the more recently recognized swift species.
Juvenile individuals lack the diagnostic white breast patch, appearing entirely dark and complicating field identification.
The species is known to roost and nest on vertical rocky cliffs, often situated near waterfalls or damp canyons.
It belongs to the genus Cypseloides, which is characterized by having a slower wingbeat and longer gliding phases than most other swifts.
Foraging occurs at high altitudes in large mixed-species flocks, where it feeds exclusively on airborne insects.

Habitat

Montane evergreen forests, deep river canyons, and rocky cliff faces.

Range

Discontinuous range across the Andes of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Black SwiftCypseloides niger Great Dusky SwiftCypseloides senex Rothschild's SwiftCypseloides rothschildi Rothschild's SwiftCypseloides rothschildi Spot-fronted SwiftCypseloides cherriei White-chinned SwiftCypseloides cryptus White-fronted SwiftCypseloides storeri White-fronted SwiftCypseloides storeri

Heard a White-chested Swift?

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