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

White-headed Munia

Lonchura maja

A small, distinctive estrildid finch easily identified by its striking white head and throat contrasting with a warm chocolate-brown body.

What it sounds like

A high-pitched, thin 'peep' or 'prip' and a soft, rhythmic chattering song.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:32

Rec. Lim Ying Hien · MalaysiaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

Adults possess a completely white head, while juveniles are a uniform dull brown and lack the white hood entirely.
They are highly gregarious birds, often forming large, nomadic flocks to forage for seeds in grasslands.
Their diet is primarily granivorous, focusing on grass seeds and occasionally raiding ripening rice crops.
The species constructs a characteristic dome-shaped nest made of grass, typically hidden in tall reeds or shrubs.
Despite being common in their range, they are popular in the international cage-bird trade, leading to some localized pressure.

Habitat

Wet grasslands, reedbeds, marshes, and agricultural areas such as rice paddies.

Range

Southeast Asia, including the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java, Bali, and parts of Vietnam.

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 White-headed Munia?

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