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

Northern Red Bishop

Euplectes franciscanus

A small, sexually dimorphic weaver bird known for the male's brilliant scarlet and black breeding plumage and elaborate display flights.

What it sounds like

A rapid, high-pitched series of chattering notes followed by a long, dry, sizzling buzz.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Joost van Bruggen · GambiaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

During the breeding season, males undergo a dramatic molt from cryptic brown to vibrant red and black feathers.
The species is highly polygynous, with a single male often defending a territory containing multiple nesting females.
Males weave intricate, oval-shaped nests from grass and reeds, typically situated over or near water.
Distinguishable from the Southern Red Bishop by the male's red throat and more extensive red crown reaching the bill.
Established non-native populations exist in Southern California and the Caribbean due to escapes from the pet trade.

Habitat

Tall grasslands, reedbeds, marshes, and agricultural areas like rice or sugarcane fields.

Range

Native to sub-Saharan Africa north of the equator; introduced elsewhere.

Similar & commonly confused birds

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

Heard a Northern Red Bishop?

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