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 Spoonbill

Platalea alba

The African Spoonbill is a large, long-legged wading bird characterized by its snow-white plumage and distinctive spatulate bill. It is easily recognized by its bare red face and matching long red legs, which distinguish it from other white waterbirds.

What it sounds like

Generally silent, but produces low, guttural grunts or croaks when disturbed or at the nest.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Tony Archer · South AfricaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It hunts by swinging its specialized spoon-shaped bill from side to side through shallow water to catch small fish and crustaceans.
Unlike many other spoonbill species, the African Spoonbill has striking red facial skin and red legs throughout the year.
The species is highly gregarious, often nesting in large colonies alongside ibises, herons, and cormorants.
Juveniles are born with shorter, more conventional-looking beaks that gradually broaden into the spoon shape as they mature.
While mostly silent, they perform elaborate bowing and bill-clapping displays during the courtship process.

Habitat

Shallow inland waters, including marshes, floodplains, lake edges, and slow-moving rivers.

Range

Widespread across Sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Black-faced SpoonbillPlatalea minor Eurasian SpoonbillPlatalea leucorodia Roseate SpoonbillPlatalea ajaja Royal SpoonbillPlatalea regia Yellow-billed SpoonbillPlatalea flavipes

Heard a African Spoonbill?

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