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

Bannerman's Weaver

Ploceus bannermani

The Bannerman's Weaver is a striking, montane-dwelling passerine characterized by its bright yellow plumage and distinctive black facial mask. It is an endemic species of the West African highlands, currently facing conservation challenges due to habitat fragmentation.

What it sounds like

A series of sharp, metallic 'chak' or 'chet' notes followed by a short, wheezy, descending trill.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:11

Rec. Mike Nelson · CameroonCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is named in honor of David Armitage Bannerman, a renowned British ornithologist who specialized in West African avifauna.
Unlike many weaver species that form massive colonies, the Bannerman's Weaver is typically found in pairs or small, quiet family groups.
The species is categorized as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List because its entire global range is restricted to a few isolated mountain peaks.
Their nests are globular structures with a side entrance, woven primarily from grass and fibers and hidden within dense shrubs rather than high trees.
It exhibits altitudinal migration, moving to lower elevations during the non-breeding season to escape harsh high-altitude weather.

Habitat

Montane forest edges, thickets, and high-altitude shrublands between 1,100 and 2,900 meters.

Range

The Bamenda Highlands and Mount Oku in Cameroon, extending slightly into the Obudu Plateau of eastern Nigeria.

Similar & commonly confused birds

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

Heard a Bannerman's 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