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 Crested Flycatcher

Elminia albonotata

A small, hyperactive insectivore of African montane forests characterized by its prominent crest and conspicuous white outer tail feathers. It is a member of the Stenostiridae family, often referred to as 'fairy flycatchers.'

What it sounds like

A thin, high-pitched, and rambling series of squeaky 'tsee-tsee' notes that often lack a fixed pattern.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Dries Van de Loock · ZimbabweCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

Frequently fans its tail while foraging to reveal white outer feathers, a behavior used to flush hidden insects from foliage.
Originally classified with monarch flycatchers, molecular data moved this species into the distinct 'fairy flycatcher' family.
It is a highly social bird that frequently acts as a core member of mixed-species foraging flocks in the forest canopy.
The nest is a neat, deep cup of moss and lichen bound with spider silk, typically camouflaged to look like a mossy knot on a branch.
Unlike many typical flycatchers that sally from perches, it is extremely restless and constantly flits through the understory.

Habitat

Montane evergreen forests, bamboo thickets, and forest edges, typically at altitudes between 1,200 and 2,500 meters.

Range

Discontinuous populations across East and Southeast Africa, including the Albertine Rift, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, and Zimbabwe.

Similar & commonly confused birds

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

Heard a White-tailed Crested Flycatcher?

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