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-faced Crimsonwing

Cryptospiza reichenovii

The Red-faced Crimsonwing is a small, secretive estrildid finch inhabiting the dense undergrowth of African montane forests. It is best known for the male's striking crimson-red face and mantle which contrast with its olive-green plumage.

What it sounds like

High-pitched, thin 'tsit' or 'tsee' contact calls and a soft, rapid series of tinkling notes.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:17

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

Field notes

Males exhibit a distinctive red 'mask' around the eyes that is entirely absent in females.
Despite their bright colors, they are notoriously difficult to spot due to their shy nature and preference for thick tangled vegetation.
They are primarily granivorous, feeding on the seeds of grasses and various herbaceous forest plants.
Nests are characteristic domed structures made of grass and moss, usually hidden low in shrubs or bamboo.
The species occurs in isolated populations across several mountain ranges, leading to the recognition of multiple subspecies.

Habitat

Understory of montane evergreen forests, bamboo thickets, and dense secondary growth at forest edges.

Range

Highlands of Central, East, and West Africa, including the Albertine Rift and the Cameroon line.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Abyssinian CrimsonwingCryptospiza salvadorii Dusky CrimsonwingCryptospiza jacksoni Shelley's CrimsonwingCryptospiza shelleyi

Heard a Red-faced Crimsonwing?

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