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 Sunbird

Cinnyris nectarinioides

A small, vibrant nectar-feeder of East African drylands, characterized by the male's striking iridescent plumage and contrasting dark underparts.

What it sounds like

A rapid, high-pitched series of 'tsee-tsee' notes and a jumbled, twittering song characteristic of the sunbird family.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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

Field notes

Males possess a metallic green head and throat separated from the eponymous black belly by a narrow, bright red breast-band.
The species exhibits pronounced sexual dimorphism, with females having dull olive-grey upperparts and yellowish, streaked underparts.
They use a specialized long, decurved bill and a tubular, brush-tipped tongue to reach nectar in deep-throated flowers.
The species is highly territorial and is often seen aggressively chasing other sunbirds away from prime flowering trees.
While primarily nectarivorous, they also consume small insects and spiders, especially during the breeding season to provide protein for chicks.

Habitat

Arid thorn-scrub, acacia savanna, and deciduous riverine thickets.

Range

East Africa, specifically Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, and Tanzania.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Abyssinian SunbirdCinnyris habessinicus Anjouan SunbirdCinnyris comorensis Apricot-breasted SunbirdCinnyris buettikoferi Arabian SunbirdCinnyris hellmayri Bates's SunbirdCinnyris batesi Beautiful SunbirdCinnyris pulchellus Congo SunbirdCinnyris congensis Copper SunbirdCinnyris cupreus

Heard a Black-bellied Sunbird?

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