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

Forest Fody

Foudia omissa

A small, forest-dwelling weaver endemic to Madagascar, distinguished by the male's vibrant scarlet breeding plumage and its strict reliance on undisturbed humid canopy.

What it sounds like

High-pitched, sharp 'tsip' notes and a dry, buzzing, insect-like trill.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 1:18

Rec. Albert Lastukhin · MadagascarCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

Unlike the ubiquitous Red Fody, the Forest Fody avoids human-altered landscapes and remains confined to dense primary forests.
Breeding males are almost entirely crimson but can be distinguished from Red Fodies by the absence of a broad black 'mask' around the eyes.
It is primarily insectivorous but also feeds on seeds and nectar, often foraging in the high canopy or mid-story.
Hybridization with the Red Fody has been observed in regions where deforestation and habitat fragmentation force the two species into contact.
This species is typically found in the eastern rainforest belt of Madagascar at elevations ranging from sea level up to 2,000 meters.

Habitat

Primary humid evergreen forests and mature secondary growth.

Range

Eastern Madagascar.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Aldabra FodyFoudia aldabrana Mauritius FodyFoudia rubra Red FodyFoudia madagascariensis Red-headed FodyFoudia eminentissima Reunion FodyFoudia delloni Rodrigues FodyFoudia flavicans Rodrigues FodyFoudia flavicans Seychelles FodyFoudia sechellarum

Heard a Forest Fody?

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