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

Jameson's Firefinch

Lagonosticta rhodopareia

Jameson's Firefinch is a small, shy estrildid finch characterized by the male's deep rose-red plumage, brown back, and fine white spotting on the flanks.

What it sounds like

A rapid, clicking 'pit-pit-pit' or 't-t-t-t-t' and a melodic song featuring high-pitched trills.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:16

Rec. Ehren Eksteen · South AfricaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is the specific host species for the Purple Indigobird, a brood parasite that mimics the firefinch's unique nestling mouth markings.
The species name 'rhodopareia' is derived from the Greek words for 'rose' and 'cheek', referring to its vibrant facial coloration.
Unlike the similar African Firefinch, Jameson's Firefinch has a distinctively pale or pinkish-red base to its lower mandible.
They are primarily granivorous but will supplement their diet with small insects, particularly termites, during the breeding season.
Nests are typically ball-shaped structures with a side entrance, constructed from dry grass and hidden low in dense thickets or thorny bushes.

Habitat

Dry acacia savanna, thickets, and riverine scrub in semi-arid regions.

Range

Widespread across Eastern and Southern Africa, from South Sudan and Ethiopia to northern South Africa.

Similar & commonly confused birds

African FirefinchLagonosticta rubricata Bar-breasted FirefinchLagonosticta rufopicta Black-bellied FirefinchLagonosticta rara Black-faced FirefinchLagonosticta larvata Brown FirefinchLagonosticta nitidula Chad FirefinchLagonosticta umbrinodorsalis Mali FirefinchLagonosticta virata Red-billed FirefinchLagonosticta senegala

Heard a Jameson's Firefinch?

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