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

Bamboo Warbler

Locustella alfredi

A shy, elusive passerine of African montane forests, primarily known for skulking within dense bamboo and herbaceous undergrowth.

What it sounds like

A series of rhythmic, high-pitched whistling notes, often described as 'see-wee-see-wee' or soft piping.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Ouma Oluoko Joseph · KenyaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

Formerly classified in the genus Bradypterus, it is now placed in Locustella alongside grass-warblers.
The species is highly secretive and is considered one of Africa's more difficult-to-observe forest birds.
It exhibits a disjunct distribution with two recognized subspecies: L. a. alfredi and L. a. kungwensis.
The plumage is characterized by warm olive-brown upperparts and a noticeably pale throat and belly.
It is primarily a terrestrial forager, searching for insects among leaf litter and thick ground-level vegetation.

Habitat

Montane bamboo thickets, dense secondary growth, and tangled forest edges.

Range

Fragmented populations across East and Central Africa, including Ethiopia, Uganda, DR Congo, and Tanzania.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Baikal Bush WarblerLocustella davidi Benguet Bush WarblerLocustella seebohmi Brown Bush WarblerLocustella luteoventris Buru Bush WarblerLocustella disturbans Chinese Bush WarblerLocustella tacsanowskia Common Grasshopper WarblerLocustella naevia Dalat Bush WarblerLocustella idonea Friendly Bush WarblerLocustella accentor

Heard a Bamboo Warbler?

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