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

Lavender Waxbill

Glaucestrilda caerulescens

A small, elegant estrildid finch characterized by its soft pearl-grey plumage and striking crimson tail and rump. It is a highly active and social bird common across the shrublands of West Africa.

What it sounds like

High-pitched, thin 'tsee-tsee' contact notes and a soft, rising 'pwee-pwee' whistle.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:41

Rec. Peter Boesman · SenegalCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

It measures approximately 10 cm in length and is known for its slender, delicate build and black lores.
Unlike many other finches, it frequently supplements its seed-based diet with small insects like termites and aphids.
The species is known for a unique tail-flicking behavior, where it twitches its red tail sideways when excited or alarmed.
They are highly gregarious, often forming small family groups or joining mixed-species flocks with other waxbills.
Nests are typically globular structures built from fine grass, often featuring a 'cock's nest' on top to distract predators.

Habitat

Dry savannas, thorn-scrub, open grassy woodlands, and suburban gardens.

Range

Sub-Saharan West and Central Africa, ranging from Senegal and Gambia to Chad and Cameroon.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Black-tailed WaxbillGlaucestrilda perreini Cinderella WaxbillGlaucestrilda thomensis

Heard a Lavender Waxbill?

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