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

Sedge Warbler

Acrocephalus schoenobaenus

A medium-sized, streaked Old World warbler recognized by its prominent creamy supercilium and energetic, improvisational song. It is a common summer visitor to European and Asian wetlands, known for its restless behavior within dense vegetation.

What it sounds like

A loud, frantic, and varied medley of chattering, whistling, and harsh notes, often delivered in a rapid-fire sequence.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 12:47

Rec. Romuald Mikusek · PolandCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Male Sedge Warblers do not have a fixed song repertoire; they constantly improvise and can incorporate mimicry of other bird species.
Before autumn migration, they can nearly double their body mass by accumulating fat to fuel a non-stop flight across the Sahara Desert.
Females are known to select mates based on the complexity of the male's song, which serves as an indicator of age and experience.
Unlike the similar Reed Warbler, the Sedge Warbler has a heavily streaked crown and mantle, making it easier to identify visually.
During the breeding season, males perform a distinctive song-flight, rising vertically into the air before parachuting back down to a perch.

Habitat

Marshes, reed beds, damp ditches, and lush vegetation near water or in damp meadows.

Range

Breeds across Europe and Western Asia; migrates to wintering grounds in sub-Saharan Africa.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Aguiguan Reed WarblerAcrocephalus nijoi Aquatic WarblerAcrocephalus paludicola Australian Reed WarblerAcrocephalus australis Basra Reed WarblerAcrocephalus griseldis Black-browed Reed WarblerAcrocephalus bistrigiceps Blunt-winged WarblerAcrocephalus concinens Blyth's Reed WarblerAcrocephalus dumetorum Cape Verde Swamp WarblerAcrocephalus brevipennis

Heard a Sedge Warbler?

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