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 Golden-Weaver

Ploceus subaureus

A vibrant yellow songbird of Eastern and Southern Africa, distinguished by its colonial nesting habits in wetland environments.

What it sounds like

A rapid, chattering 'swizzling' song consisting of harsh metallic notes and wheezy whistles.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:47

Rec. isaac kilusu · KenyaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Breeding males feature striking orange-red irises, while females and non-breeding males typically have brownish-red eyes.
They construct oval or kidney-shaped nests woven from grass and reed strips, notably lacking the entrance tunnels seen in some other weaver species.
The species is highly gregarious, often forming large, noisy breeding colonies in reedbeds or trees overhanging water.
During courtship, males perform a distinctive display by hanging upside down from their nests and vigorously flapping their wings.
While primarily insectivorous during the breeding season, they also feed on seeds, fruit, and nectar from various plants.

Habitat

Reedbeds, mangroves, and lush riverine or lakeside vegetation.

Range

Eastern and South-eastern Africa, from Kenya and Somalia south to eastern South Africa.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Asian Golden WeaverPloceus hypoxanthus Baglafecht WeaverPloceus baglafecht Bannerman's WeaverPloceus bannermani Bar-winged WeaverPloceus angolensis Bates's WeaverPloceus batesi Baya WeaverPloceus philippinus Bertram's WeaverPloceus bertrandi Black-billed WeaverPloceus melanogaster

Heard a African Golden-Weaver?

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