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

American Golden-Plover

Pluvialis dominica

A slim, elegant shorebird renowned for its gold-spangled plumage and one of the longest migratory journeys in the Western Hemisphere.

What it sounds like

A sharp, melodic, and plaintive whistled 'que-e-e-a' or a shorter 'que-del'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:22

Rec. AUDEVARD Aurélien · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Follows an elliptical migration route, flying over the Atlantic Ocean in autumn and returning via the Great Plains in spring.
Breeding adults display a striking jet-black face and underparts, sharply separated from the gold-flecked back by a white S-shaped neck stripe.
During their transoceanic flight, they are capable of flying non-stop for over 3,000 kilometers without landing to rest or feed.
Unlike most shorebirds, they frequently forage in dry upland habitats such as short-grass prairies and plowed agricultural fields.
Nests are simple scrapes on the ground lined with lichens and dry grass, typically containing exactly four well-camouflaged eggs.

Habitat

Arctic tundra for breeding; grasslands, pampas, and occasionally mudflats during migration and winter.

Range

Breeds in the high Arctic of Alaska and Canada; winters in central South America, primarily Argentina and Uruguay.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Black-bellied PloverPluvialis squatarola European Golden-PloverPluvialis apricaria Pacific Golden-PloverPluvialis fulva

Heard a American Golden-Plover?

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