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-eared Seedeater

Crithagra mennelli

The Black-eared Seedeater is a small, distinctive finch characterized by its striking facial mask and strong ecological dependency on Miombo woodland ecosystems.

What it sounds like

A melodic, high-pitched canary-like warble consisting of varied trills and whistled 'tsee-ee-ee' notes.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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

Field notes

The species is named after Frederic Philip Mennell, a 20th-century South African geologist and amateur naturalist.
It is distinguished from the similar Black-throated Canary by its broader white forehead and bold white supercilium.
The bird is a Miombo specialist, rarely found far from Brachystegia or teak-dominated woodlands.
During the non-breeding season, it frequently joins mixed-species foraging flocks alongside other finches and eremomelas.
Its diet is primarily granivorous, favoring seeds from Protea plants and various indigenous grasses.

Habitat

Dry broadleaf woodlands, specifically Miombo (Brachystegia) and Zambezian teak forests.

Range

Southern and Central Africa, ranging across Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, and parts of Botswana.

Similar & commonly confused birds

African CitrilCrithagra citrinelloides Ankober SerinCrithagra ankoberensis Arabian SerinCrithagra rothschildi Black-faced CanaryCrithagra capistrata Black-throated CanaryCrithagra atrogularis Brimstone CanaryCrithagra sulphurata Brown-rumped SeedeaterCrithagra tristriata Cape SiskinCrithagra totta

Heard a Black-eared Seedeater?

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