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

Bubbling Cisticola

Cisticola bulliens

A vocal, small warbler of the Cisticolidae family, the Bubbling Cisticola is best known for its distinctive liquid song and is largely endemic to Angola.

What it sounds like

A loud, characteristic series of liquid, 'bubbling' trills and chirps, often rising in pitch.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Pritam Baruah · AngolaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

The species is nearly endemic to Angola, with its range only slightly extending into the southwestern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
It is sexually dimorphic in size, with males being notably larger and heavier than females.
The bird is a 'skulker' in dense grass but will perch prominently on tall stems or bushes when delivering its song.
It belongs to a genus of over 50 species that are notoriously difficult to distinguish visually, making vocalizations essential for identification.
It constructs a sophisticated purse-shaped nest by weaving living grass and spiderwebs together, often low to the ground.

Habitat

Tall rank grasslands, savannas, and thickets, frequently found in moist areas or coastal scrub.

Range

Western Central Africa, specifically Angola and southwestern DRC.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Aberdare CisticolaCisticola aberdare Ashy CisticolaCisticola cinereolus Black-backed CisticolaCisticola eximius Black-lored CisticolaCisticola nigriloris Boran CisticolaCisticola bodessa Carruthers's CisticolaCisticola carruthersi Chattering CisticolaCisticola anonymus Chirping CisticolaCisticola pipiens

Heard a Bubbling Cisticola?

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Identify a bird by its song