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

Taveta Golden-Weaver

Ploceus castaneiceps

A vibrant East African weaver known for its brilliant golden-yellow plumage and the male's distinctive chestnut crown and nape.

What it sounds like

A rapid, chattering series of 'che-che-che' notes followed by a wheezy, buzzy 'swizzle' song.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. isaac kilusu · TanzaniaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

The species is named after the Taveta district in Kenya, where it was first documented.
Males are master architects, weaving intricate oval nests from grass and palm blades overhanging water.
During courtship, males hang upside down from their nests and vigorously flap their wings to attract females.
While primarily granivorous, they supplement their diet with insects, especially when feeding nestlings.
They are highly colonial nesters, often crowding dozens of nests into a single stand of reeds or a solitary tree.

Habitat

Swamps, reedbeds, and riverine woodland or thickets near water.

Range

Localized to coastal and inland areas of southern Kenya and northern Tanzania.

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 Taveta Golden-Weaver?

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