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

Baglafecht Weaver

Ploceus baglafecht

A medium-sized, strikingly patterned weaver common in East African highlands, notable for its significant plumage variation across several distinct subspecies.

What it sounds like

A rapid, wheezy series of chattering notes and sizzling whistles, often rendered as 'v-v-v-v-cheee-zeee'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Frank Lambert · TanzaniaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

Unlike many other weaver species, it is typically non-colonial and prefers to nest in isolated pairs or small family groups.
It exhibits extreme polytypic variation with eight recognized subspecies, ranging from birds with bold black masks to those with entirely golden heads.
The nest is a stout, globular structure woven from coarse grass and typically lacks the long entrance tunnels seen in related Ploceus species.
It is a highly adaptable feeder that supplements its diet of insects and seeds with nectar from flowering trees like Grevillea.
It is a true highland specialist, frequently found at elevations ranging from 1,200 to over 3,000 meters above sea level.

Habitat

Highland forest edges, montane scrub, gardens, and agricultural clearings.

Range

Highlands of East and Central Africa, including Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and eastern DR Congo.

Similar & commonly confused birds

African Golden-WeaverPloceus subaureus Asian Golden WeaverPloceus hypoxanthus 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 Baglafecht Weaver?

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Identify a bird by its song