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

Brimstone Canary

Crithagra sulphurata

A robust and large-bodied canary of southern and eastern Africa, easily identified by its exceptionally heavy bill and greenish-yellow plumage.

What it sounds like

A deep, jumbled, and somewhat raspy warble, lower in pitch than the Yellow-fronted Canary, often featuring 'swirri-yit' notes.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Daan van der Hoeven · South AfricaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is the largest member of the Crithagra genus, reaching a length of approximately 15-16 centimeters.
The species possesses a powerful, hooked beak specialized for cracking hard seeds and woody fruit stones that other finches cannot penetrate.
Unlike many smaller canary species, it is generally less social and typically occurs in pairs or small family units rather than large nomadic flocks.
Molecular phylogenetic studies led to its reclassification from the genus Serinus to Crithagra.
There are three distinct subspecies, with the southernmost 'sulphurata' being the largest and greenest of the group.

Habitat

Coastal scrub, woodland edges, savanna, bushy hillsides, and suburban gardens.

Range

Eastern and Southern Africa, ranging from central Kenya and Uganda south to the Western Cape of South Africa.

Similar & commonly confused birds

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

Heard a Brimstone Canary?

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