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-rumped Seedeater

Crithagra leucopygia

A small, unassuming finch of the Sahel region, notable for its drab grayish plumage contrasted by a bright white rump and a remarkably melodic song.

What it sounds like

A complex, sustained series of sweet whistles, trills, and warbles; the flight call is a thin, metallic 'tsi-it'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Bram Piot · SenegalCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Originally classified in the genus Serinus, it was reassigned to Crithagra following molecular phylogenetic studies.
It is one of the most highly regarded songbirds in its range, frequently compared to the domestic canary for its vocal complexity.
The species is sexually monomorphic, meaning males and females share the same grayish-brown streaked appearance and white rump patch.
While primarily granivorous, it opportunistically feeds on swarming termites to provide essential protein for its chicks during the breeding season.
Outside of the breeding season, they are highly gregarious and frequently form nomadic flocks of up to 50 individuals.

Habitat

Arid savanna, thorn scrub, cultivated fields, and rural gardens.

Range

Sub-Saharan Africa, specifically the Sahel belt stretching from Senegal and Mauritania east to Ethiopia and Eritrea.

Similar & commonly confused birds

African CitrilCrithagra citrinelloides Ankober SerinCrithagra ankoberensis Arabian SerinCrithagra rothschildi Black-eared SeedeaterCrithagra mennelli Black-faced CanaryCrithagra capistrata Black-throated CanaryCrithagra atrogularis Brimstone CanaryCrithagra sulphurata Brown-rumped SeedeaterCrithagra tristriata

Heard a White-rumped Seedeater?

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Identify a bird by its song