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

Chirping Cisticola

Cisticola pipiens

A large, robust wetland warbler of south-central Africa, distinguished by its heavily streaked back and affinity for permanent reedbeds.

What it sounds like

A repetitive, metallic 'chirp-chirp-chirp' or liquid 'wick-wick-wick' sequence.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:51

Rec. Magnus Wadstein · ZambiaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is significantly larger and heavier-billed than the closely related Winding Cisticola.
The species is almost entirely restricted to permanent papyrus and Phragmites swamps.
Males perform high-altitude song flights to defend territories during the breeding season.
Its nest is an oval ball of dry grass and spider webs, typically hidden deep within marsh vegetation.
The plumage features a distinctive rufous crown that contrasts sharply with dark mantle streaking.

Habitat

Dense permanent swamps, papyrus beds, and tall reeds bordering river systems.

Range

South-central Africa, including the Okavango Delta, Angola, Zambia, and Namibia.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Aberdare CisticolaCisticola aberdare Ashy CisticolaCisticola cinereolus Black-backed CisticolaCisticola eximius Black-lored CisticolaCisticola nigriloris Boran CisticolaCisticola bodessa Bubbling CisticolaCisticola bulliens Carruthers's CisticolaCisticola carruthersi Chattering CisticolaCisticola anonymus

Heard a Chirping Cisticola?

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