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

Black-and-white Mannikin

Spermestes bicolor

A small, gregarious estrildid finch characterized by its starkly contrasting glossy black head and white underparts.

What it sounds like

A repetitive, high-pitched 'tsit-tsit' or metallic 'peet-peet' used to maintain flock cohesion.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Bram Piot · CameroonCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

They exhibit highly social 'clumping' behavior, where multiple individuals huddle tightly together on a single branch.
The species primarily feeds on grass seeds but is also known to consume algae from the surface of stagnant water.
They construct large, spherical nests made of grass and often repurpose abandoned weaver nests or live near wasp colonies for protection.
Juveniles are vastly different in appearance, featuring a uniform dull brown plumage and a dark bill rather than the adult's bicolor pattern.
Despite their small size, they possess a notably thick, blue-grey bill specialized for de-husking various cereal crops and wild seeds.

Habitat

Moist savannas, forest edges, clearings, mangroves, and agricultural lands.

Range

Sub-Saharan Africa, from West Africa across to Ethiopia and south to eastern South Africa.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Bronze MannikinSpermestes cucullata Gray-headed SilverbillSpermestes griseicapilla Magpie MannikinSpermestes fringilloides

Heard a Black-and-white Mannikin?

Open Birdsong, tap record, and identify the bird singing near you in seconds — then collect it in your field journal.

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