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

African Citril

Crithagra citrinelloides

The African Citril is a small, vibrant finch of the East African highlands, recognized by its yellowish plumage and distinctive facial markings.

What it sounds like

A varied, high-pitched jumble of sweet whistling notes and rapid trills, punctuated by sharp 'tsit' or 'tseet' contact calls.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:33

Rec. Lars Lachmann · KenyaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Males typically display a prominent blackish face mask and throat, though this varies across its three main subspecies.
Unlike many similar serins, it has a shorter, more notched tail and heavily streaked mantle and back.
It is highly social, often foraging in small flocks of up to 20 individuals outside of the breeding season.
Its diet is specialized toward small seeds of grasses and composites, though it opportunistically feeds on termites and aphids.
The species is monogamous and constructs a compact cup nest made of fine grass and lined with soft plant down.

Habitat

Montane forest edges, scrubland, gardens, and highland cultivation areas.

Range

Highlands of East Africa, specifically Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, and South Sudan.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Ankober SerinCrithagra ankoberensis Arabian SerinCrithagra rothschildi Black-eared SeedeaterCrithagra mennelli Black-faced CanaryCrithagra capistrata Black-throated CanaryCrithagra atrogularis Brimstone CanaryCrithagra sulphurata Brown-rumped SeedeaterCrithagra tristriata Cape SiskinCrithagra totta

Heard a African Citril?

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