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

Village Indigobird

Vidua chalybeata

A small, brood-parasitic songbird where breeding males display iridescent blue-black plumage and striking white bills. It is best known for its complex vocal mimicry and specialized relationship with the Red-billed Firefinch.

What it sounds like

A rapid, metallic jumble of chattering, whistles, and clicks, seamlessly integrated with perfect imitations of the Red-billed Firefinch's song.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Tony Archer · South AfricaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is an obligate brood parasite, primarily laying its eggs in the nests of the Red-billed Firefinch (Lagonosticta senegala).
Unlike many cuckoos, Village Indigobird nestlings do not evict their host's eggs or kill the host's chicks; they are raised alongside them.
Nestlings mimic the specific, intricate gape patterns and begging calls of the host species' young to ensure they are fed by the foster parents.
Adult males are exceptional mimics, incorporating the exact songs and alarm calls of their host species into their own complex vocal displays.
The species is highly territorial during the breeding season, with males defending 'studios' or song posts to attract multiple females.

Habitat

Savanna, open woodland, and anthropogenic landscapes such as gardens, villages, and cultivated fields.

Range

Widespread throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, from Senegal east to Ethiopia and south to South Africa.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Barka IndigobirdVidua larvaticola Broad-tailed Paradise-WhydahVidua obtusa Cameroon IndigobirdVidua camerunensis Dusky IndigobirdVidua funerea Eastern Paradise-WhydahVidua paradisaea Exclamatory Paradise-WhydahVidua interjecta Green IndigobirdVidua codringtoni Jambandu IndigobirdVidua raricola

Heard a Village Indigobird?

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Identify a bird by its song