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

Southern Masked-Weaver

Ploceus velatus

A prolific and widespread African songbird famous for its intricate weaving and striking yellow plumage. It is a highly social species often found in noisy colonies near water sources.

What it sounds like

A rapid, chattering sequence of harsh swizzling and buzzing notes, often ending in a long, trilled 'zreeee'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Marna Buys · South AfricaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Males weave elaborate, kidney-shaped nests from grass and leaf strips to attract potential mates.
A single male may build over 20 nests in one breeding season as part of a polygynous mating strategy.
Females inspect the structural integrity and freshness of a nest before deciding whether to accept a mate.
The species is a frequent host for the brood-parasitic Diederik Cuckoo, which replaces the weaver's eggs with its own.
Outside of the breeding season, the male loses its iconic black mask and bright yellow feathers, molting into a cryptic dull brown plumage.

Habitat

Savanna, grasslands, reedbeds, and suburban gardens, typically near water.

Range

Widespread throughout Southern Africa, extending north to Angola, Zambia, and Malawi.

Similar & commonly confused birds

African Golden-WeaverPloceus subaureus Asian Golden WeaverPloceus hypoxanthus Baglafecht WeaverPloceus baglafecht Bannerman's WeaverPloceus bannermani Bar-winged WeaverPloceus angolensis Bates's WeaverPloceus batesi Baya WeaverPloceus philippinus Bertram's WeaverPloceus bertrandi

Heard a Southern Masked-Weaver?

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