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 Bishop

Euplectes gierowii

A large, striking weaver bird known for the male's vibrant orange-red and velvety black breeding plumage found in African grasslands.

What it sounds like

A series of harsh, sizzling buzzes and high-pitched wheezing notes.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:44

Rec. Brendan Sloan · UgandaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

Males exhibit dramatic sexual dimorphism, switching from dull brown to brilliant red-orange and black during the breeding season.
It is notably larger and more robust than most other members of the bishop family (Euplectes).
The species is polygynous, with a single male defending a territory and mating with multiple females.
They construct oval, woven grass nests typically suspended between tall grass stems or shrubs.
Unlike the Northern Red Bishop, the Black Bishop has a distinctive orange-red breast band and a black crown.

Habitat

Tall, rank grasslands, elephant grass, swamp edges, and humid forest clearings.

Range

Central and East Africa, including parts of Angola, DR Congo, South Sudan, Kenya, and Tanzania.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Black-winged BishopEuplectes hordeaceus Buff-shouldered WidowbirdEuplectes psammacromius Fan-tailed WidowbirdEuplectes axillaris Fire-fronted BishopEuplectes diadematus Golden-backed BishopEuplectes aureus Jackson's WidowbirdEuplectes jacksoni Jackson's WidowbirdEuplectes jacksoni Long-tailed WidowbirdEuplectes progne

Heard a Black Bishop?

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