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

Chad Firefinch

Lagonosticta umbrinodorsalis

The Chad Firefinch is a localized estrildid finch characterized by its rich red plumage and a contrasting dusky-brown mantle. It is a shy, ground-foraging specialist endemic to the rocky landscapes of north-central Africa.

What it sounds like

A series of sharp, metallic 'pit-pit' notes followed by a rising and falling liquid trill.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

No reference call found yet · Xeno-canto

Field notes

It was historically classified as a subspecies of Jameson's Firefinch but was split due to distinct genetic markers and its darker dorsal plumage.
The species is a primary host for Wilson's Indigobird, a brood parasite whose chicks mimic the specific gape patterns of firefinch nestlings.
Its scientific name, 'umbrinodorsalis', literally translates to 'umber-backed,' referring to its olive-brown upperparts.
The bird is highly range-restricted, found primarily in the Mandara Mountains and isolated inselbergs.
During courtship, males often perform a ritualized display involving holding a piece of grass or a feather in their beak while singing.

Habitat

Rocky hillsides, tall grass near thickets, and arid savanna with scattered shrubbery.

Range

Northern Cameroon and southwestern Chad.

Similar & commonly confused birds

African FirefinchLagonosticta rubricata Bar-breasted FirefinchLagonosticta rufopicta Black-bellied FirefinchLagonosticta rara Black-faced FirefinchLagonosticta larvata Brown FirefinchLagonosticta nitidula Jameson's FirefinchLagonosticta rhodopareia Mali FirefinchLagonosticta virata Red-billed FirefinchLagonosticta senegala

Heard a Chad Firefinch?

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