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-eyed Slaty-Flycatcher

Melaenornis fischeri

A common East African highland flycatcher distinguished by its uniform charcoal-gray plumage and striking white orbital ring.

What it sounds like

A varied series of high-pitched, sweet, and somewhat thin whistling notes, occasionally incorporating mimicry.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. isaac kilusu · TanzaniaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It belongs to the 'shrike-flycatcher' group and was previously classified in the genus Dioptrornis.
Unlike many flycatchers, it frequently drops to the ground to forage for beetles and other terrestrial invertebrates.
It exhibits a bold temperament, often perching in the open on garden fences or prominent tree limbs.
The nest is a neat cup made of moss, lichen, and rootlets, typically placed 2 to 10 meters above the ground.
Juveniles are distinctively spotted and streaked, only gaining the signature white eye-ring as they mature.

Habitat

Highland forests, forest edges, well-wooded gardens, and clearings.

Range

Eastern Africa, spanning from Ethiopia and South Sudan to Malawi.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Abyssinian Slaty-FlycatcherMelaenornis chocolatinus Angola Slaty-FlycatcherMelaenornis brunneus Nimba FlycatcherMelaenornis annamarulae Northern Black-FlycatcherMelaenornis edolioides Southern Black-FlycatcherMelaenornis pammelaina Yellow-eyed Black-FlycatcherMelaenornis ardesiacus

Heard a White-eyed Slaty-Flycatcher?

Open Birdsong, tap record, and identify the bird singing near you in seconds — then collect it in your field journal.

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