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 Seedeater

Sporophila melanogaster

The Black-bellied Seedeater is a small, specialized passerine of the southern Brazilian highlands, characterized by the male's distinctive black underparts and lead-gray plumage. It is a migratory species closely tied to the health of native high-altitude grassland ecosystems.

What it sounds like

A sweet, melodic series of high-pitched whistles and warbles, often incorporating mimicry of other grassland birds.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Fernando Igor de Godoy · BrazilCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is an austral migrant, breeding in southern Brazil and Argentina before migrating north to the Cerrado for the winter.
The species is currently listed as Near Threatened due to the conversion of its native grasslands into soy and pine plantations.
Males are visually striking with black throats and bellies, but females are olive-brown and nearly identical to other 'capuchino' seedeaters.
Its diet is highly specialized, relying on the seeds of specific native grasses like Paspalum and Andropogon.
It is often found in mixed-species flocks during the non-breeding season, frequently associating with the Marsh Seedeater.

Habitat

Humid high-altitude grasslands (campos de altitude) and marshes with tall, seeding grasses.

Range

Breeds in Southern Brazil and Northeast Argentina; winters in Central Brazil (Cerrado).

Similar & commonly confused birds

Black-and-tawny SeedeaterSporophila nigrorufa Black-and-white SeedeaterSporophila luctuosa Black-billed Seed-FinchSporophila atrirostris Buffy-fronted SeedeaterSporophila frontalis Chestnut SeedeaterSporophila cinnamomea Chestnut-bellied Seed-FinchSporophila angolensis Chestnut-bellied SeedeaterSporophila castaneiventris Chestnut-throated SeedeaterSporophila telasco

Heard a Black-bellied Seedeater?

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