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 Firefinch

Lagonosticta rubricata

A small, secretive estrildid finch characterized by the male's deep crimson plumage and grey crown. It is typically found foraging in pairs within dense, moist vegetation across Sub-Saharan Africa.

What it sounds like

A rapid, descending trill of 't-t-t-t-t' notes and a sharp, metallic 'wink-wink' alarm call.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Tim Cockcroft · South AfricaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

The African Firefinch is the primary host for the brood-parasitic Dusky Indigobird, which mimics the firefinch's nestling gape patterns.
Males are distinguished from the similar Red-billed Firefinch by their lead-grey crowns and distinctively blue-grey bills.
They are primarily granivores, specialized in foraging for small grass seeds on the ground within the safety of dense cover.
Unlike many other firefinches that prefer dry savannas, this species favors moister environments with higher rainfall.
They exhibit sexual dimorphism, with females being significantly duller, appearing mostly buff-brown with red restricted to the face and rump.

Habitat

Dense scrub, forest edges, rank grasslands, and overgrown gardens near water.

Range

Widespread across Sub-Saharan Africa, ranging from Senegal to Ethiopia and south to South Africa.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Bar-breasted FirefinchLagonosticta rufopicta Black-bellied FirefinchLagonosticta rara Black-faced FirefinchLagonosticta larvata Brown FirefinchLagonosticta nitidula Chad FirefinchLagonosticta umbrinodorsalis Jameson's FirefinchLagonosticta rhodopareia Mali FirefinchLagonosticta virata Red-billed FirefinchLagonosticta senegala

Heard a African Firefinch?

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Identify a bird by its song