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 Oystercatcher

Haematopus palliatus

A large, unmistakable shorebird characterized by its heavy, bright orange-red bill and bold black-and-white plumage. It is a specialized bivalve consumer found exclusively along coastal margins.

What it sounds like

A loud, sharp, and piercing 'wheep' or 'kleep,' frequently repeated in a rapid, piping series during flight or territorial displays.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Jonas Nilsson · EcuadorCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Their laterally compressed bills are specifically adapted for either prying open or hammering through the shells of mollusks.
Juveniles require a long apprenticeship of up to 60 days to learn the complex physical techniques needed to shuck oysters and clams.
They are one of the few bird species that exclusively inhabits saltwater coastal environments, rarely venturing inland.
To defend territories, pairs perform 'piping ceremonies' involving rhythmic walking and synchronized, high-pitched vocalizations.
The species is easily identified by its piercing yellow eyes surrounded by a striking red orbital ring.

Habitat

Coastal beaches, salt marshes, sandbars, and intertidal oyster reefs.

Range

Atlantic and Gulf Coasts of North America from Massachusetts south to the West Indies and South America.

Similar & commonly confused birds

African OystercatcherHaematopus moquini Black OystercatcherHaematopus bachmani Blackish OystercatcherHaematopus ater Canarian OystercatcherHaematopus meadewaldoi Chatham Islands OystercatcherHaematopus chathamensis Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus Magellanic OystercatcherHaematopus leucopodus Pied OystercatcherHaematopus longirostris

Heard a American Oystercatcher?

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