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

Eastern Paradise-Whydah

Vidua paradisaea

A striking brood parasite of the African savanna, the male is renowned for its spectacular, elongated black tail feathers and golden-chestnut plumage during the breeding season.

What it sounds like

A complex series of clear whistles, raspy notes, and chattering, heavily featuring mimicked songs of the Green-winged Pytilia.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Andrew Spencer · EthiopiaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is an obligate brood parasite that primarily targets the Green-winged Pytilia, laying its eggs in the host's nest for them to raise.
During the breeding season, males grow two central tail feathers that can reach up to 30 centimeters, nearly three times their body length.
Unlike many other brood parasites, whydah nestlings do not kill the host's chicks; they are raised together in the same nest.
Male whydahs are expert mimics, learning and incorporating the specific songs and alarm calls of their host species into their own vocal displays.
Whydah chicks possess specialized mouth markings and gape patterns that perfectly match those of the host's offspring to ensure they are fed.

Habitat

Open savanna, acacia thorn scrub, and dry broadleaf woodlands.

Range

Eastern and Southern Africa, ranging from Sudan and Ethiopia south to South Africa.

Similar & commonly confused birds

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

Heard a Eastern Paradise-Whydah?

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