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 Woodland-Warbler

Phylloscopus umbrovirens

A small, restless leaf-warbler of high-altitude African and Arabian forests, distinguished by its olive-brown upperparts and prominent pale supercilium.

What it sounds like

A sweet, rhythmic series of thin, high-pitched whistling notes, often described as 'tsee-tsee-tsee-tu-tu-tu'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. bert de bruin · Saudi ArabiaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is one of the few Phylloscopus species that is a year-round resident in sub-Saharan Africa rather than a Palearctic migrant.
The species name 'umbrovirens' translates from Latin as 'shaded green,' reflecting its muted olive and brown coloration.
It is found at remarkably high elevations, inhabiting Afro-alpine moorlands and heath up to 4,000 meters above sea level.
The species is divided into at least nine subspecies due to its fragmented distribution across isolated mountain 'islands.'
It primarily forages in the upper canopy, using active 'gleaning' techniques to pluck small insects from the undersides of leaves.

Habitat

Montane evergreen forests, juniper woodlands, bamboo thickets, and high-altitude scrubland.

Range

Eastern Africa (from Ethiopia and Eritrea to Malawi) and the southwestern Arabian Peninsula.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Alström's WarblerPhylloscopus soror Arctic WarblerPhylloscopus borealis Ashy-throated WarblerPhylloscopus maculipennis Biak Leaf WarblerPhylloscopus misoriensis Bianchi's WarblerPhylloscopus valentini Black-capped Woodland-WarblerPhylloscopus herberti Blyth's Leaf WarblerPhylloscopus reguloides Brooks's Leaf WarblerPhylloscopus subviridis

Heard a Brown Woodland-Warbler?

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