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

Abyssinian Crimsonwing

Cryptospiza salvadorii

A small, elusive estrildid finch found in the high-altitude forests of East Africa, distinguished by its striking crimson mantle and olive-green underparts.

What it sounds like

A thin, high-pitched 'tsit' or 'tseee' call, alongside a soft, rapid twittering song.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:53

Rec. James Bradley · KenyaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is one of four species in the genus Cryptospiza, all of which are specialized montane forest dwellers known as crimsonwings.
The species exhibits sexual dimorphism, with males displaying more extensive and vibrant red on their flanks compared to the duller females.
They are notoriously shy and difficult to observe, spending most of their time foraging in the dark shadows of dense undergrowth.
Their diet primarily consists of small seeds, particularly from forest grasses and herbaceous plants like balsams.
The Abyssinian Crimsonwing is typically found at elevations between 1,500 and 3,000 meters across its fragmented range.

Habitat

Dense undergrowth of moist montane forests, bamboo thickets, and forest edges.

Range

Montane regions of East Africa, including the Ethiopian Highlands and the Albertine Rift.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Dusky CrimsonwingCryptospiza jacksoni Red-faced CrimsonwingCryptospiza reichenovii Shelley's CrimsonwingCryptospiza shelleyi

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