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-tailed Blue Flycatcher

Elminia albicauda

A small, restless insectivore characterized by its soft cerulean plumage and a distinctive white-edged tail that it frequently fans.

What it sounds like

A high-pitched, thin, and tinkling series of 'tsip' notes ending in a faint trill.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Dries Van de Loock · ZambiaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It belongs to the family Stenostiridae, a group colloquially known as fairy-flycatchers.
The bird constantly fans and flicks its tail while foraging to flush out hidden insects.
It is often a nuclear member of mixed-species foraging flocks within its woodland habitat.
Both sexes share similar pale blue plumage, though females may appear slightly duller.
Nests are delicate cups constructed from lichen and moss, tightly bound with spider silk.

Habitat

Open montane forests, moist woodlands, and garden thickets.

Range

South-central Africa, including Angola, DRC, Tanzania, Malawi, and Zambia.

Similar & commonly confused birds

African Blue FlycatcherElminia longicauda Dusky Crested FlycatcherElminia nigromitrata White-bellied Crested FlycatcherElminia albiventris White-tailed Blue FlycatcherElminia albicauda White-tailed Crested FlycatcherElminia albonotata

Heard a White-tailed Blue Flycatcher?

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