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

African Darter

Anhinga rufa

A large, slender waterbird characterized by a snake-like neck and a specialized method of impaling prey underwater.

What it sounds like

Typically silent away from the nest; produces harsh, guttural croaks and rattling grunts during colonial breeding.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Nature sounds by Simply Birding · South AfricaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

Commonly called the 'snakebird' because it swims with its body submerged, leaving only the head and neck visible above water.
Lacks fully waterproof plumage, which reduces buoyancy and allows the bird to dive more effectively and stay submerged longer.
Hunts by using a rapid, spring-loaded neck mechanism to spear fish with its sharp, serrated bill.
Must spend significant periods perched with wings spread (the 'heraldic pose') to dry its waterlogged feathers and thermoregulate.
Features a specialized hinge between the eighth and ninth cervical vertebrae that facilitates its lightning-fast striking ability.

Habitat

Freshwater lakes, slow-moving rivers, marshes, and occasionally brackish estuaries.

Range

Widespread throughout Sub-Saharan Africa and the marshes of southern Iraq.

Similar & commonly confused birds

AnhingaAnhinga anhinga Australasian DarterAnhinga novaehollandiae Oriental DarterAnhinga melanogaster

Heard a African Darter?

Open Birdsong, tap record, and identify the bird singing near you in seconds — then collect it in your field journal.

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