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-collared Widowbird

Euplectes ardens

A striking sexually dimorphic weaver where breeding males exhibit long, flowing black tails and a vivid red crescent on the throat. It is noted for its dramatic seasonal plumage transformation and complex polygynous mating systems.

What it sounds like

A rapid, high-pitched series of thin 'zic-zic-zic' notes and swizzling, buzzy trills.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Dries Van de Loock · ZambiaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

Breeding males grow elongated tail feathers that can reach up to 22 centimeters, nearly double their body length.
The species is highly polygynous, with a single dominant male often defending a territory containing multiple nesting females.
The red collar is a carotenoid-based signal, the brightness of which is used by other males to assess competitive ability.
Outside of the breeding season, males molt into a cryptic 'eclipse' plumage that resembles the streaky brown appearance of females.
Experimental tail-shortening studies have shown that tail length significantly impacts a male's ability to defend high-quality territories.

Habitat

Open grasslands, rank vegetation, and scrubby hillsides, often near water or marshy areas.

Range

Widespread across sub-Saharan Africa, from Guinea and Ethiopia down to South Africa.

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 Red-collared Widowbird?

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