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

Yellow-throated Cuckoo

Chrysococcyx flavigularis

A small, elusive canopy-dwelling bird of the African rainforest, distinguished by its metallic green upperparts and vibrant yellow throat.

What it sounds like

A rapid, descending sequence of 4–6 high-pitched, clear whistles, often transcribed as 'pee-pee-pee-pee'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 1:07

Rec. Peter Boesman · GhanaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is a brood parasite, likely targeting small insectivorous songbirds, though its specific hosts remain poorly documented.
The species exhibits sexual dimorphism; males possess a solid yellow throat while females feature barred underparts.
Primarily insectivorous, it specializes in consuming hairy caterpillars that are avoided by many other bird species.
It is highly territorial during the breeding season, with males calling persistently from high, concealed perches.
Unlike the similar African Emerald Cuckoo, it lacks white on the outer tail feathers and has a more restricted forest range.

Habitat

Primary lowland evergreen rainforest and moist gallery forests.

Range

West and Central Africa, ranging from Sierra Leone east to western Uganda and south to northern Angola.

Similar & commonly confused birds

African Emerald CuckooChrysococcyx cupreus Asian Emerald CuckooChrysococcyx maculatus Dideric CuckooChrysococcyx caprius Klaas's CuckooChrysococcyx klaas Violet CuckooChrysococcyx xanthorhynchus

Heard a Yellow-throated Cuckoo?

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Identify a bird by its song