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 Weaver

Ploceus cucullatus

A highly social and vocal weaver species recognized for its complex colonial nesting and the striking yellow-and-black plumage of breeding males.

What it sounds like

A loud, continuous chattering of harsh, wheezy notes and descending buzzy whistles.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:37

Rec. JJSUN · South AfricaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Males construct multiple elaborate, kidney-shaped nests from grass and palm fronds to attract potential mates.
The species is a primary host for the brood-parasitic Diederik Cuckoo, leading to highly variable egg colors and patterns.
Colonies can be massive, sometimes featuring hundreds of nests within a single tree, often located near human habitations.
During courtship, males hang upside down from the entrance of their nests while vigorously fluttering their wings.
They often strip the leaves off their nesting trees to make the colony more visible to mates and less accessible to climbing predators.

Habitat

Savannas, open woodlands, forest clearings, and agricultural areas near human settlements.

Range

Widespread throughout Sub-Saharan Africa.

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 Village 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