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

Ashy Cisticola

Cisticola cinereolus

The Ashy Cisticola is a small, subtly colored insectivorous warbler restricted to the arid thorn-scrub and acacia savannas of East Africa.

What it sounds like

A series of thin, high-pitched 'tsep' notes followed by a dry, buzzing trill.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:35

Rec. Sidney Shema · KenyaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is distinguished from congeners by its notably pale, greyish-brown upperparts and lack of strong rufous tones.
Like other cisticolas, it constructs a 'stitched' nest by sewing living leaves together using spider silk and plant fibers.
The species is highly terrestrial for a warbler, often foraging for small invertebrates deep within dense, thorny thickets.
It belongs to the family Cisticolidae, a group of Old World warblers known for their complex vocalizations and tail-flicking displays.
While mostly resident, it may move locally in response to seasonal rainfall and changes in insect abundance.

Habitat

Dry thorn-scrub, arid acacia savanna, and semi-desert bushland.

Range

Horn of Africa and East Africa, specifically Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, and northern Tanzania.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Aberdare CisticolaCisticola aberdare Black-backed CisticolaCisticola eximius Black-lored CisticolaCisticola nigriloris Boran CisticolaCisticola bodessa Bubbling CisticolaCisticola bulliens Carruthers's CisticolaCisticola carruthersi Chattering CisticolaCisticola anonymus Chirping CisticolaCisticola pipiens

Heard a Ashy Cisticola?

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