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-rumped Bunting

Emberiza affinis

The Brown-rumped Bunting is a small, distinctively marked passerine native to the broadleaf woodlands and savannas of sub-Saharan Africa.

What it sounds like

A high-pitched, thin 'tseee' contact call and a short, melodic song of whistled notes.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:52

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

Field notes

Adult males exhibit a striking black head pattern with bold white superciliary and subocular stripes.
Despite its common name, the rump is often more of a rich rufous or cinnamon color than a dull brown.
The species is primarily terrestrial when feeding, primarily consuming small seeds and seasonally available insects.
It is a member of the family Emberizidae, closely related to the Cabanis's Bunting and the Golden-breasted Bunting.
Breeding typically occurs during the rainy season when food resources like caterpillars are most abundant for nestlings.

Habitat

Dry open woodlands, Combretum savannas, and scrubby grasslands.

Range

Tropical Africa, ranging from Senegal and Gambia across to Ethiopia and south into the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Black-faced BuntingEmberiza spodocephala Black-headed BuntingEmberiza melanocephala Cabanis's BuntingEmberiza cabanisi Cape BuntingEmberiza capensis Chestnut BuntingEmberiza rutila Chestnut-eared BuntingEmberiza fucata Cinereous BuntingEmberiza cineracea Cinnamon-breasted BuntingEmberiza tahapisi

Heard a Brown-rumped Bunting?

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