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 Red Bishop

Euplectes orix

A small, gregarious weaver bird famous for the male's brilliant scarlet and black breeding plumage and its elaborate colonial nesting habits.

What it sounds like

A rapid, buzzy medley of sizzling and chirping notes, often compared to the sound of radio static.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:03

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

Field notes

Breeding males undergo a dramatic molt from cryptic brown to vibrant red and black to attract multiple mates.
They are highly polygynous, with a single male often defending a territory containing up to seven active nests.
The nest is an oval structure expertly woven from thin strips of grass, typically suspended between reeds over water.
During courtship displays, males puff out their feathers to a spherical shape and perform slow, hovering 'bumblebee' flights.
Outside of the breeding season, they lose their bright colors and form massive nomadic flocks with other weaver species.

Habitat

Reedbeds, marshes, and tall grasslands, often near permanent water sources or agricultural fields.

Range

Southern Africa, extending from South Africa north to Angola, Zambia, and Tanzania.

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 Southern Red Bishop?

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