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

Bush Pipit

Anthus caffer

A diminutive and cryptically colored passerine often found in wooded savannas rather than open grasslands. It is one of the smallest pipit species and frequently perches in trees to sing or seek cover.

What it sounds like

A thin, high-pitched 'tsip' or 'tsee' call; the song is a repetitive, rhythmic series of whistled 'cheree-cheree-cheree' notes.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:38

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

Field notes

It is significantly smaller than most other African pipits, measuring only about 12-14 cm in length.
While most pipits are strictly terrestrial, the Bush Pipit frequently retreats to trees when disturbed and often sings from an elevated branch.
The species exhibits a disjunct distribution, with widely separated populations across East and Southern Africa.
Its plumage is heavily streaked on the breast and mantle, providing excellent camouflage against leaf litter and bark.
It constructs a well-concealed cup nest on the ground, usually tucked under a grass tuft or low bush.

Habitat

Dry acacia savanna, broad-leaved woodland, and scrubby hillsides with sparse ground cover.

Range

Discontinuous ranges across East Africa (Ethiopia to Tanzania) and Southern Africa (South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe).

Similar & commonly confused birds

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

Heard a Bush 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