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

Bronze Mannikin

Spermestes cucullata

A small, highly gregarious estrildid finch common across sub-Saharan Africa, recognized by its dark head and iridescent wing patches.

What it sounds like

A rapid, high-pitched 'chwee-chwee' or rhythmic 'tsit-tsit' used as a frequent contact call between flock members.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. African Bioacoustics Community · South AfricaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

They are intensely social birds that often huddle in tight, physical contact while roosting to maintain social bonds and conserve heat.
The 'bronze' in their name refers to the metallic green-bronze patches on their shoulders and secondary feathers.
They construct two types of nests: one for breeding and a separate, simpler 'sleeping nest' used exclusively for communal roosting.
While primarily granivorous, they are known to supplement their diet with filamentous algae and small insects.
Bronze Mannikins frequently build nests in close proximity to social wasp colonies as a defensive strategy against predators.

Habitat

Savannas, grasslands, forest edges, and human-altered environments such as gardens and cultivated fields.

Range

Widespread across sub-Saharan Africa, from Senegal east to Ethiopia and south to South Africa.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Black-and-white MannikinSpermestes bicolor Gray-headed SilverbillSpermestes griseicapilla Magpie MannikinSpermestes fringilloides

Heard a Bronze Mannikin?

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