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

Tricolored Munia

Lonchura malacca

A small, distinctive estrildid finch characterized by its black head, chestnut mantle, and white belly.

What it sounds like

A thin, high-pitched 'peep' or 'tseep' contact call and a soft, wheezy, flute-like song.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Sreekumar Chirukandoth · IndiaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Formerly considered conspecific with the Chestnut Munia (Lonchura atricapilla) before being split based on plumage and range.
Highly gregarious species that often forms large, nomadic flocks containing hundreds of individuals outside the breeding season.
Specialized granivore with a heavy, conical lead-grey bill designed for dehusking grass seeds and cereal grains.
Constructs a large, globular nest made of grass with a lateral entrance, often situated in tall reeds or thorny shrubs.
Significant feral populations have been established globally via the pet trade, notably in the Caribbean, Hawaii, and South America.

Habitat

Wet grasslands, reedbeds, marshes, and agricultural areas, particularly rice paddies.

Range

Native to Peninsular India and Sri Lanka; introduced widely across the Neotropics and Pacific islands.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Alpine MuniaLonchura monticola Bismarck MuniaLonchura melaena Black MuniaLonchura stygia Black-breasted MuniaLonchura teerinki Black-faced MuniaLonchura molucca Black-throated MuniaLonchura kelaarti Chestnut MuniaLonchura atricapilla Chestnut-breasted MuniaLonchura castaneothorax

Heard a Tricolored Munia?

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Identify a bird by its song