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-browed Reed Warbler

Acrocephalus bistrigiceps

A small, distinctive Old World warbler of East Asia, easily identified by its bold black lateral crown stripe and pale supercilium. It is a common inhabitant of dense wetlands and tall grass during the breeding season.

What it sounds like

A rapid, rhythmic medley of harsh, chattering notes and melodic whistles, often described as a rhythmic 'char-char-chee-chee'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 1:25

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

Field notes

It is distinguished from most other Acrocephalus warblers by the prominent black stripe running above its creamy-white eye-brow.
The species is highly migratory, traveling from Northeast Asian breeding grounds to wintering sites across Southeast Asia.
Like many of its relatives, its song is complex and often incorporates mimicry of other bird species found in its environment.
It predominantly forages for insects and spiders low within dense vegetation, rarely venturing into high canopies.
During the breeding season, males are known for their persistent singing from hidden perches within reed beds to defend territories.

Habitat

Reed beds, marshes, tall grasslands, and riverside scrub.

Range

Breeds in Eastern Siberia, Northeast China, Korea, and Japan; winters in Southeast Asia and parts of Eastern India.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Aguiguan Reed WarblerAcrocephalus nijoi Aquatic WarblerAcrocephalus paludicola Australian Reed WarblerAcrocephalus australis Basra Reed WarblerAcrocephalus griseldis Blunt-winged WarblerAcrocephalus concinens Blyth's Reed WarblerAcrocephalus dumetorum Cape Verde Swamp WarblerAcrocephalus brevipennis Caroline Reed WarblerAcrocephalus syrinx

Heard a Black-browed Reed Warbler?

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