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

Dusky Indigobird

Vidua funerea

The Dusky Indigobird is a small, brood-parasitic songbird where breeding males display a uniform black plumage with contrasting pale bills and reddish legs.

What it sounds like

A rapid, jumbled series of clicks and warbles interspersed with mimicry of the African Firefinch's trills and whistles.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:22

Rec. Lynette Rudman · South AfricaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is an obligate brood parasite, specifically targeting the nests of the African Firefinch (Lagonosticta rubricata).
Males are mimicry experts, incorporating the exact songs and alarm calls of their host firefinches into their own displays.
Unlike cuckoos, indigobird chicks do not evict host eggs; instead, they are raised alongside the host's biological offspring.
The nestlings possess specialized mouth markings (gape patterns) that perfectly mimic those of the host species to ensure feeding.
Breeding males are highly territorial and typically sing from high, exposed 'song-posts' to defend their area and attract females.

Habitat

Moist woodlands, forest edges, valley bushveld, and lush gardens with dense undergrowth.

Range

Southern and Eastern Africa, extending from South Africa northwards to Kenya and West Africa.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Barka IndigobirdVidua larvaticola Broad-tailed Paradise-WhydahVidua obtusa Cameroon IndigobirdVidua camerunensis Eastern Paradise-WhydahVidua paradisaea Exclamatory Paradise-WhydahVidua interjecta Green IndigobirdVidua codringtoni Jambandu IndigobirdVidua raricola Jambandu IndigobirdVidua raricola

Heard a Dusky Indigobird?

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