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-winged Widowbird

Euplectes albonotatus

A medium-sized weaver-finch characterized by the male's glossy black breeding plumage and distinctive white wing patches. It is a social species often seen in grasslands and marshy areas across Sub-Saharan Africa.

What it sounds like

A rapid, wheezy 'zheet-zheet-zheet' song accompanied by high-pitched buzzing and clicking notes.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / --:--

Rec. Faansie Peacock · South AfricaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Breeding males undergo a dramatic seasonal transformation from streaky brown to jet-black plumage with contrasting white and yellow wing markings.
Unlike its long-tailed relatives, the White-winged Widowbird has a relatively short, rounded tail used for more agile flight displays.
The species is highly polygynous, with territorial males often attracting several females to nest within their defended grassy patches.
While primarily granivorous, these birds switch to an insect-rich diet during the breeding season to meet the nutritional needs of growing chicks.
The conspicuous white primary coverts serve as a critical signaling device during slow, hovering flight displays to attract mates.

Habitat

Tall grasslands, reedbeds, and damp valley bottoms often near water or agricultural fields.

Range

Widespread across Sub-Saharan Africa, from Ethiopia and Sudan down to South Africa.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Black BishopEuplectes gierowii Black-winged BishopEuplectes hordeaceus Buff-shouldered WidowbirdEuplectes psammacromius Fan-tailed WidowbirdEuplectes axillaris Fire-fronted BishopEuplectes diadematus Golden-backed BishopEuplectes aureus Jackson's WidowbirdEuplectes jacksoni Jackson's WidowbirdEuplectes jacksoni

Heard a White-winged Widowbird?

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