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-crowned Waxbill

Estrilda nonnula

A small, elegant estrildid finch characterized by its namesake black cap, soft grey upperparts, and a striking crimson rump.

What it sounds like

Thin, high-pitched 'tsit' or 'seet' notes, often delivered in a rapid, twittering series.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:13

Rec. Bram Piot · BurundiCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Unlike many related waxbills, this species lacks a red facial mask, featuring instead a clean white or pale grey face.
It is primarily granivorous but is known to be more arboreal than most waxbills, often foraging for insects and seeds in the mid-story canopy.
The species is sexually monomorphic, with both males and females possessing the distinctive charcoal-black crown.
They build globular nests with a side entrance, often constructed with a 'cock's nest' on top to distract potential predators.
During the breeding season, they are frequently found in pairs, but they congregate in larger, nomadic flocks of up to 20 individuals during the rest of the year.

Habitat

Forest edges, clearings, montane scrub, and lush suburban gardens.

Range

Central and East Africa, ranging from southeastern Nigeria to western Kenya and Tanzania.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Anambra WaxbillEstrilda poliopareia Arabian WaxbillEstrilda rufibarba Black-headed WaxbillEstrilda atricapilla Black-lored WaxbillEstrilda nigriloris Black-rumped WaxbillEstrilda troglodytes Common WaxbillEstrilda astrild Crimson-rumped WaxbillEstrilda rhodopyga Fawn-breasted WaxbillEstrilda paludicola

Heard a Black-crowned Waxbill?

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