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

Cinnamon-breasted Bunting

Emberiza tahapisi

A distinctive African bunting identified by its rich rufous underparts and a striking black-and-white striped crown and face.

What it sounds like

A short, hurried, jingling song often transcribed as 'tree-tree-tree-re-re-re' or a sharp, thin 'tsit' contact call.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / --:--

Rec. bert de bruin · Saudi ArabiaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is highly dependent on surface water and is frequently observed drinking at puddles or rocky stream edges.
Unlike many gregarious bunting species, it is typically found in pairs or small family groups rather than large flocks.
The nest is a shallow cup of grass and rootlets, usually well-concealed within a rock crevice or on a low, stony ledge.
It is primarily a ground-forager, specializing in the seeds of grasses and forbs, supplemented by small insects during the breeding season.
While mostly resident, some populations exhibit nomadic or migratory movements driven by seasonal rainfall patterns in arid regions.

Habitat

Rocky slopes, stony hillsides, and open woodlands with sparse ground cover and available water.

Range

Widespread across Sub-Saharan Africa and the southwestern Arabian Peninsula.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Black-faced BuntingEmberiza spodocephala Black-headed BuntingEmberiza melanocephala Brown-rumped BuntingEmberiza affinis Cabanis's BuntingEmberiza cabanisi Cape BuntingEmberiza capensis Chestnut BuntingEmberiza rutila Chestnut-eared BuntingEmberiza fucata Cinereous BuntingEmberiza cineracea

Heard a Cinnamon-breasted Bunting?

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