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-lored Waxbill

Estrilda nigriloris

A rare and localized estrildid finch endemic to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, distinguished from its relatives by a prominent black mask.

What it sounds like

High-pitched, thin 'tseet' notes and a soft, chattering song typical of the genus Estrilda.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

No reference call found yet · Xeno-canto

Field notes

It was historically considered a subspecies or color morph of the Common Waxbill until its elevation to species status.
The species is named for its diagnostic black lores—the area between the bill and the eye—which lack the red stripe found in similar waxbills.
It is one of the most range-restricted birds in Africa, confined almost entirely to the Lualaba River valley.
The bird was missing from ornithological records for decades before being rediscovered in the late 20th century.
It demonstrates specialized foraging behavior, often clinging to tall grass stems to reach seed heads in flooded marshes.

Habitat

Tall, seasonally flooded grasslands and marshes adjacent to rivers and lakes.

Range

Endemic to the Upemba Depression in the Katanga province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Similar & commonly confused birds

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

Heard a Black-lored Waxbill?

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