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

Cabanis's Bunting

Emberiza cabanisi

Cabanis's Bunting is a large, striking African passerine noted for its bright yellow underparts and bold black-and-white facial markings. It is primarily found in wooded savanna environments, where it maintains a shy and unobtrusive presence.

What it sounds like

A clear, rhythmic series of whistling notes, often rendered as 'wee-chee-chee-chee' or 'tsit-tsit-tser-eee'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 1:22

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

Field notes

It is the largest species of bunting found on the African continent.
The species was named to honor Jean Cabanis, a highly influential 19th-century German ornithologist.
Unlike many other buntings that prefer open grasslands, this species is a specialist of broad-leaved deciduous woodlands.
During the breeding season, its diet shifts significantly from seeds to include a high proportion of invertebrates to provide protein for its young.
The nest is a cup constructed of grass and rootlets, typically placed low in a bush or within a cluster of sprouting leaves.

Habitat

Mature Miombo (Brachystegia) woodland, broad-leaved deciduous forests, and dense bushy thickets.

Range

Sub-Saharan Africa, spanning from West Africa (Sierra Leone) across to East Africa and south to Zimbabwe and Mozambique.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Black-faced BuntingEmberiza spodocephala Black-headed BuntingEmberiza melanocephala Brown-rumped BuntingEmberiza affinis Cape BuntingEmberiza capensis Chestnut BuntingEmberiza rutila Chestnut-eared BuntingEmberiza fucata Cinereous BuntingEmberiza cineracea Cinnamon-breasted BuntingEmberiza tahapisi

Heard a Cabanis's Bunting?

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Identify a bird by its song