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

Baya Weaver

Ploceus philippinus

A small, social weaver bird renowned for its extraordinary skill in crafting complex, pendant-shaped hanging nests from grass and leaf strips. It is widely recognized for its colonial nesting habits and striking seasonal sexual dimorphism.

What it sounds like

A repetitive series of sharp 'chit-chit' notes followed by a long, drawn-out, wheezy buzzing song.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Joan Theng · SingaporeCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Males construct elaborate retort-shaped nests with long entrance tunnels to attract females during the breeding season.
Wet mud is often plastered inside the nest walls to add weight and stability against high winds.
Nests are strategically built on thorny branches or overhanging water to deter predators like snakes and crows.
The male's breeding plumage features a bright yellow crown and breast, which fades to a dull, sparrow-like appearance in the off-season.
A single male may build several partial nests in a colony to entice multiple females, practicing a polygynous mating system.

Habitat

Grasslands, scrub, secondary forests, and cultivated fields, usually in close proximity to water.

Range

The Indian Subcontinent and throughout Southeast Asia.

Similar & commonly confused birds

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

Heard a Baya 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