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-backed Cisticola

Cisticola eximius

The Black-backed Cisticola is a small, elusive warbler of African grasslands, noted for the strikingly dark mantle seen in breeding males.

What it sounds like

A high-pitched, metallic 'tsep-tsep' followed by a rapid, clicking trill given during flight.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:07

Rec. Peter Boesman · GhanaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

During the breeding season, males develop a distinctive blackish-streaked back and mantle that contrasts with a rich rufous crown.
The species is known for high-altitude aerial displays where males circle and undulate while delivering their song.
They construct ball-shaped nests from dry grass and spiderwebs, usually situated very low to the ground in dense cover.
Unlike many other cisticolas, this species prefers moist or seasonally flooded grasslands known as dambos.
Its distribution is highly fragmented across Sub-Saharan Africa, making it a localized find for birdwatchers.

Habitat

Moist or seasonally flooded short-grass plains and high-altitude grasslands.

Range

Discontinuous range across West, Central, and East Africa, including Nigeria, Ethiopia, and south to Zambia.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Aberdare CisticolaCisticola aberdare Ashy CisticolaCisticola cinereolus Black-lored CisticolaCisticola nigriloris Boran CisticolaCisticola bodessa Bubbling CisticolaCisticola bulliens Carruthers's CisticolaCisticola carruthersi Chattering CisticolaCisticola anonymus Chirping CisticolaCisticola pipiens

Heard a Black-backed Cisticola?

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