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

Anambra Waxbill

Estrilda poliopareia

The Anambra Waxbill is a rare, small finch endemic to southern Nigeria, characterized by its pale plumage and orange-red bill.

What it sounds like

A thin, high-pitched 'tsee-tsee' or 'tsip', similar to other Estrilda species but slightly more metallic.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Bram Piot · BeninCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is currently classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN due to its extremely localized and fragmented population.
The species is often distinguished from the similar Fawn-breasted Waxbill by its diagnostic pale iris and paler belly.
It typically associates in small flocks of up to 20 individuals, often seen clinging to grass stems to feed on seeds.
The bird was first described by ornithologist George L. Bates in 1932 based on specimens from the Anambra River.
Much of its breeding biology remains a mystery to science because its nests are rarely found in the dense, tall grass it inhabits.

Habitat

Tall grasses, reedbeds, and thickets along rivers, marshes, and wetland edges.

Range

Southern Nigeria, specifically the Anambra and Imo River basins.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Arabian WaxbillEstrilda rufibarba Black-crowned WaxbillEstrilda nonnula Black-headed WaxbillEstrilda atricapilla Black-lored WaxbillEstrilda nigriloris Black-rumped WaxbillEstrilda troglodytes Common WaxbillEstrilda astrild Crimson-rumped WaxbillEstrilda rhodopyga Fawn-breasted WaxbillEstrilda paludicola

Heard a Anambra Waxbill?

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