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-rumped Shama

Copsychus malabaricus

A medium-sized passerine bird renowned for its exceptionally long tail and complex, melodious song.

What it sounds like

A rich, flute-like series of clear whistles, often punctuated by complex mimicry and sharp 'tck' alarm notes.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

No reference call found yet · Xeno-canto

Field notes

The species displays significant sexual dimorphism, with males featuring glossy black plumage and females appearing grayish-brown.
Its tail feathers are proportionally very long, often exceeding the length of the bird's body.
It is a highly territorial songbird, frequently used in singing competitions in Southeast Asia due to its vocal prowess.
They are exceptional mimics, capable of reproducing the calls of other bird species and environmental sounds.
While native to Asia, they were introduced to Kauai in 1931 and Oahu in 1940, where they are now common.

Habitat

Dense undergrowth in broadleaf forests, bamboo thickets, and overgrown gardens.

Range

Native to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia; introduced to the Hawaiian Islands.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Andaman ShamaCopsychus albiventris Black ShamaCopsychus cebuensis Indian RobinCopsychus fulicatus Kangean ShamaCopsychus nigricauda Kangean ShamaCopsychus nigricauda Larwo ShamaCopsychus omissus Madagascar Magpie-RobinCopsychus albospecularis Maratua ShamaCopsychus barbouri

Heard a White-rumped Shama?

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