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

Blue-capped Cordonbleu

Uraeginthus cyanocephalus

A small, vibrant estrildid finch distinguished by the male's striking, entirely sky-blue head and breast. It is a social and active bird frequently found in pairs or small family groups.

What it sounds like

A high-pitched, thin 'tsee-tsee' contact call and a melodic, twittering song consisting of 4–6 rising notes.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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

Field notes

Unlike the similar Red-cheeked Cordonbleu, the male Blue-capped Cordonbleu lacks red cheek patches, having a fully blue crown.
During courtship, the male performs a rhythmic 'dance' while holding a piece of nesting material in his beak and singing to the female.
This species often builds its nest near active wasp nests to leverage the insects' aggression as a defense against predators.
While primarily granivorous, they become highly insectivorous during the breeding season to provide protein for growing chicks.
The species exhibits sexual dimorphism; females have brown crowns and less extensive blue plumage compared to the males.

Habitat

Dry acacia scrub, semi-arid thornbush, and open savanna with scattered bushes.

Range

Eastern Africa, specifically Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, and Tanzania.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Red-cheeked CordonbleuUraeginthus bengalus Southern CordonbleuUraeginthus angolensis

Heard a Blue-capped Cordonbleu?

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