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 Finfoot

Podica senegalensis

A highly elusive, rail-like aquatic bird characterized by its slender neck, sharp bill, and striking bright orange-red lobed feet. It is typically seen swimming low in the water beneath dense overhanging riverine vegetation.

What it sounds like

Generally silent, but produces low, rhythmic guttural barks, growls, or a series of 'kyow-kyow' notes.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Dries Van de Loock · ZambiaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

It belongs to the family Heliornithidae, one of only three finfoot species in the world.
Instead of fully webbed feet, it possesses specialized lobed toes similar to those of grebes and coots.
Highly secretive, it often submerges its entire body when threatened, leaving only its head and neck visible above the waterline.
Despite being an aquatic specialist, it is a capable climber and is frequently observed perching on low-hanging branches.
Unlike many waterbirds, it is largely solitary or found in pairs, fiercely defending its territory along quiet river stretches.

Habitat

Slow-moving rivers, streams, and quiet lakes with dense, overhanging woody vegetation or mangroves.

Range

Sub-Saharan Africa, ranging from Senegal east to Ethiopia and south to the eastern Cape of South Africa.

Heard a African Finfoot?

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