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

Boran Cisticola

Cisticola bodessa

A small, cryptic warbler of East African arid scrublands, best identified by its distinct vocalizations rather than its plumage.

What it sounds like

A series of rising, clear whistles followed by a dry, descending trill.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:27

Rec. James Bradley · KenyaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is a sibling species to the Rattling Cisticola, from which it is nearly impossible to distinguish by appearance alone in the field.
The specific epithet 'bodessa' is derived from the town of Bodessa in southern Ethiopia, the location of its type specimen collection.
It favors drier, more rugged environments than its close relatives, specifically rocky hillsides and acacia-Commiphora bushveld.
Identification relies heavily on its song, which lacks the characteristic harsh 'scolding' notes found in the Rattling Cisticola.
It is primarily insectivorous, gleaning small invertebrates from low shrubs and occasionally foraging on the ground.

Habitat

Arid acacia savanna, dry scrubland, and rocky slopes.

Range

Eastern Africa, specifically Ethiopia, Kenya, and parts of South Sudan.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Aberdare CisticolaCisticola aberdare Ashy CisticolaCisticola cinereolus Black-backed CisticolaCisticola eximius Black-lored CisticolaCisticola nigriloris Bubbling CisticolaCisticola bulliens Carruthers's CisticolaCisticola carruthersi Chattering CisticolaCisticola anonymus Chirping CisticolaCisticola pipiens

Heard a Boran Cisticola?

Open Birdsong, tap record, and identify the bird singing near you in seconds — then collect it in your field journal.

Identify a bird by its song