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

Timor Sparrow

Padda fuscata

A small, chocolate-brown estrildid finch endemic to the Lesser Sunda Islands, recognized by its striking white belly and heavy silvery-blue bill.

What it sounds like

A sharp, metallic 'tlip' or 'chup' call, and a complex, liquid warbling song.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

No reference call found yet · Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is the smaller, darker relative of the more widely known Java Sparrow.
The species is currently classified as Near Threatened due to capture for the cage-bird trade and habitat fragmentation.
They possess a specialized, powerful conical beak specifically adapted for husking tough grass seeds and rice grains.
During the breeding season, they build large, messy dome-shaped nests made of dried grass, typically situated high in trees.
The Timor Sparrow exhibits minimal sexual dimorphism, meaning males and females are nearly identical in plumage.

Habitat

Lowland grasslands, savanna, agricultural fields, and light woodland edges.

Range

Endemic to the islands of Timor, Semau, and Rote in Indonesia and East Timor.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Java SparrowPadda oryzivora

Heard a Timor Sparrow?

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