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

Brown Firefinch

Lagonosticta nitidula

A small, drab estrildid finch primarily characterized by its earthy brown plumage and fine white breast spotting. Unlike most other firefinches, it lacks extensive red coloration in both sexes.

What it sounds like

A sharp, metallic 'tsit' or 'peet' contact call and a soft, warbling song composed of rising whistles.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Dries Van de Loock · ZambiaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is one of the few firefinch species where the male lacks a bright red breast or face.
The species is highly specialized for life near water, almost never found far from permanent river systems or swamps.
During courtship, the male holds a piece of nesting material in its beak while performing a rhythmic hopping dance.
It is a frequent host for the brood-parasitic Vidua birds, specifically the Broad-tailed Paradise Whydah in some regions.
Its plumage serves as excellent camouflage within the dense, shaded riverine undergrowth it inhabits.

Habitat

Riparian thickets, reedbeds, and rank grass near permanent water sources or floodplains.

Range

South-central Africa, spanning Angola, southern DRC, Zambia, Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe.

Similar & commonly confused birds

African FirefinchLagonosticta rubricata Bar-breasted FirefinchLagonosticta rufopicta Black-bellied FirefinchLagonosticta rara Black-faced FirefinchLagonosticta larvata Chad FirefinchLagonosticta umbrinodorsalis Jameson's FirefinchLagonosticta rhodopareia Mali FirefinchLagonosticta virata Red-billed FirefinchLagonosticta senegala

Heard a Brown Firefinch?

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Identify a bird by its song