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

Carruthers's Cisticola

Cisticola carruthersi

The Carruthers's Cisticola is a secretive, papyrus-specialist warbler endemic to the wetland systems of East and Central Africa.

What it sounds like

A series of high, clear 'tew' notes followed by a distinctive dry, rattling trill or buzz.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Peter Boesman · UgandaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is a strict 'papyrus endemic,' almost entirely restricted to the unique microclimate of papyrus swamp ecosystems.
The species is named after Douglas Carruthers, a prominent 20th-century British explorer and naturalist.
It is visually distinguished from similar cisticolas by its bright rufous crown and heavily black-streaked mantle.
The bird is highly skulking in nature, typically staying deep within dense vegetation and rarely flying over open water.
Despite its very specific habitat requirements, it is often locally common within its restricted range.

Habitat

Dense papyrus swamps, reedbeds, and thick marshy vegetation bordering lakes and rivers.

Range

The Lake Victoria basin and Albertine Rift, including parts of Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, and the DRC.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Aberdare CisticolaCisticola aberdare Ashy CisticolaCisticola cinereolus Black-backed CisticolaCisticola eximius Black-lored CisticolaCisticola nigriloris Boran CisticolaCisticola bodessa Bubbling CisticolaCisticola bulliens Chattering CisticolaCisticola anonymus Chirping CisticolaCisticola pipiens

Heard a Carruthers's Cisticola?

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