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

Swinhoe's White-eye

Zosterops simplex

A small, olive-green passerine distinguished by its prominent white eye-ring, recently taxonomically split from the Warbling White-eye complex.

What it sounds like

High-pitched, metallic 'tsee' contact calls and a soft, rapid, liquid warbling song.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Joan Theng · SingaporeCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Formerly classified as a subspecies of Zosterops japonicus, it was elevated to species status based on distinct vocalizations and molecular phylogeny.
The characteristic white 'spectacles' are composed of tiny, specialized feathers rather than bare skin.
It is a highly gregarious species that often forms large, active foraging flocks outside of the breeding season.
As an opportunistic feeder, it plays a vital ecological role as both a seed disperser and a pollinator for various flowering plants.
The species is notably adaptable to anthropogenic changes, frequently inhabiting urban parks and dense residential gardens.

Habitat

Open woodlands, mangroves, secondary forests, and urban green spaces.

Range

Eastern China, Taiwan, and parts of northern Southeast Asia including Vietnam and Thailand.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Abyssinian White-eyeZosterops abyssinicus Aldabra White-eyeZosterops aldabrensis Ambon White-eyeZosterops kuehni Angola White-eyeZosterops kasaicus Anjouan White-eyeZosterops anjuanensis Annobon White-eyeZosterops griseovirescens Ashy-bellied White-eyeZosterops citrinella Australian Yellow White-eyeZosterops luteus

Heard a Swinhoe's White-eye?

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