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

Bertram's Weaver

Ploceus bertrandi

A medium-sized weaver of African montane and riverine habitats, notable for the male's vibrant golden-orange head and contrasting black facial mask.

What it sounds like

A mix of rapid, buzzy chattering notes followed by clear, descending whistles.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:06

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

Field notes

Males exhibit a distinctive black mask that extends from the bill through the eye, set against a rich chestnut-orange crown and nape.
Unlike many colonial weavers, this species is typically found in pairs or small family groups rather than large, noisy colonies.
The nest is a neat, retort-shaped structure woven from grass, often suspended from branches overhanging water.
Females lack the bright orange head of the males, instead possessing an olive-green crown and a less pronounced black eye-stripe.
The species was named after Bertram Lutley Sclater, who collected the type specimen during a military survey in Malawi.

Habitat

High-altitude riverine thickets, forest edges, and rank vegetation near montane streams.

Range

Southeastern Africa, specifically the highlands of Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Zambia.

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 Baya WeaverPloceus philippinus Black-billed WeaverPloceus melanogaster

Heard a Bertram's Weaver?

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