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

Fan-tailed Widowbird

Euplectes axillaris

A sexually dimorphic weaver bird characterized by the breeding male's velvety black plumage and vibrant orange-red shoulder epaulets.

What it sounds like

A dry, sizzling series of high-pitched 'zit-zit-zit' notes and sharp 'tsip' contact calls.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Dries Van de Loock · ZambiaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

Unlike many other widowbirds, the breeding male's tail is relatively short and fan-shaped rather than elongated and ribbon-like.
They practice a polygynous mating system where a single male defends a territory containing multiple female nests.
During the non-breeding season, males undergo a complete molt into a streaky brown 'eclipse' plumage that resembles females and juveniles.
The intensity and size of the red wing coverts serve as social signals to rival males and potential mates during aerial displays.
This species is highly gregarious outside the breeding season, often forming large mixed-species flocks with other weavers and bishops.

Habitat

Tall, moist grasslands, marshes, and reedbeds, typically in proximity to water.

Range

Sub-Saharan Africa, including disjointed populations across West, East, and Southern Africa.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Black BishopEuplectes gierowii Black-winged BishopEuplectes hordeaceus Buff-shouldered WidowbirdEuplectes psammacromius Fire-fronted BishopEuplectes diadematus Golden-backed BishopEuplectes aureus Jackson's WidowbirdEuplectes jacksoni Jackson's WidowbirdEuplectes jacksoni Long-tailed WidowbirdEuplectes progne

Heard a Fan-tailed Widowbird?

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