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-faced Canary

Crithagra capistrata

A small, vibrant finch of Central Africa, the Black-faced Canary is easily identified by the striking black facial mask found on adult males.

What it sounds like

A rapid, high-pitched series of melodic twittering, trills, and soft whistling notes.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Dries Van de Loock · ZambiaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

It exhibits strong sexual dimorphism; only males possess the namesake black mask, while females have duller, streaked plumage.
The species was formerly classified in the genus Serinus before being moved to Crithagra based on molecular phylogenetic studies.
Unlike many open-country canaries, it prefers moist forest edges and secondary growth near water sources.
Its diet is primarily granivorous, consisting of small seeds from grasses and herbaceous plants, supplemented by occasional insects.
It is generally found in pairs or small family groups rather than forming the large, nomadic flocks seen in other seedeaters.

Habitat

Moist savanna, forest edges, riverine thickets, and clearings within lowland forests.

Range

Central and Southern Africa, ranging from Gabon and Angola to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zambia.

Similar & commonly confused birds

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

Heard a Black-faced Canary?

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