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

Buffy Pipit

Anthus vaalensis

A large, pale African pipit characterized by its upright posture and buff-colored, minimally streaked underparts. It is a terrestrial insectivore found primarily in open, short-grass environments.

What it sounds like

A sharp, metallic 'chup' or 'ssshirp' contact call; the song is a monotonous, repetitive 'tre-tre-tre' delivered during an undulating display flight.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Nature Sounds by Simply Birding · South AfricaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is distinguished from the similar Plain-backed Pipit by its paler plumage and significantly reduced breast streaking.
The outer tail feathers are buff or light brownish-grey, lacking the bright white margins seen in many other pipit species.
It shows a strong preference for 'bare' micro-habitats such as recently burnt grasslands or heavily grazed areas.
When alerted, it adopts an exceptionally vertical 'sentinel' stance to survey its surroundings.
The species is primarily resident but may perform local nomadic movements in response to grass height and rainfall patterns.

Habitat

Arid to semi-arid open grasslands, dry pan edges, and stony slopes with sparse cover.

Range

Southern and East Africa, ranging from South Africa and Namibia north to Zambia and Tanzania.

Similar & commonly confused birds

African PipitAnthus cinnamomeus Alpine PipitAnthus gutturalis American PipitAnthus rubescens Australian PipitAnthus australis Berthelot's PipitAnthus berthelotii Blyth's PipitAnthus godlewskii Bush PipitAnthus caffer Correndera PipitAnthus correndera

Heard a Buffy Pipit?

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