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

Red Avadavat

Amandava amandava

The Red Avadavat, also known as the Strawberry Finch, is a small, gregarious estrildid finch famous for the male's striking crimson breeding plumage and delicate white speckling.

What it sounds like

A thin, high-pitched 'tsit' or 'pseep' contact call and a low-pitched, flute-like warbling song.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Ding Li Yong · ThailandCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

The name 'Avadavat' is a corruption of Ahmedabad, a city in Gujarat, India, which served as a major export hub for the bird trade in the past.
It is the only species of estrildid finch in which the male undergoes a dramatic seasonal molt from a dull brown to a vibrant red during the breeding season.
The white spots characteristic of their plumage are thought to provide camouflage by mimicking the appearance of seed heads or sunlight filtering through tall grass.
During courtship, the male performs a unique display by holding a blade of grass or a feather in his beak while singing and bowing to the female.
While native to South and Southeast Asia, their popularity in aviculture has led to established feral populations in diverse locations including Hawaii, Fiji, and Spain.

Habitat

Tall grasslands, marshy areas, reed beds, and agricultural fields, typically in close proximity to water.

Range

Native to South and Southeast Asia, spanning from Pakistan through India to Indonesia and southern China.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Green AvadavatAmandava formosa Zebra WaxbillAmandava subflava

Heard a Red Avadavat?

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