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-bellied Firefinch

Lagonosticta rara

The Black-bellied Firefinch is a small, shy estrildid finch characterized by the male's vibrant wine-red plumage and distinctive black lower underparts.

What it sounds like

A series of high-pitched, thin whistles including 'twee-twee' notes and a short, rising trill.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Brendan Sloan · Sierra LeoneCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is a primary host for the brood-parasitic Wilson's Indigobird, which mimics the firefinch's specific nestling mouth markings.
Unlike many other members of the Lagonosticta genus, this species lacks the small white twin-spots typically found on the flanks.
The species is highly sexually dimorphic; while males are deep red, females are primarily greyish-brown with pinkish-red lores and rumps.
It forages mainly on the ground for small grass seeds but significantly increases its insect intake, such as termites, during the breeding season.
They are generally more reclusive than other firefinches, typically found in pairs or small family units rather than large communal flocks.

Habitat

Tall, rank grasslands, moist savannas, and thickets along woodland edges, often near rocky outcrops or water sources.

Range

Discontinuous distribution across Sub-Saharan Africa, from Senegal and Guinea east to South Sudan, Uganda, and western Kenya.

Similar & commonly confused birds

African FirefinchLagonosticta rubricata Bar-breasted FirefinchLagonosticta rufopicta Black-faced FirefinchLagonosticta larvata Brown FirefinchLagonosticta nitidula Chad FirefinchLagonosticta umbrinodorsalis Jameson's FirefinchLagonosticta rhodopareia Mali FirefinchLagonosticta virata Red-billed FirefinchLagonosticta senegala

Heard a Black-bellied Firefinch?

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