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

Andean Duck

Oxyura ferruginea

A stocky, stiff-tailed diving duck of high-altitude Andean wetlands, notable for the male's chestnut body and striking black cap.

What it sounds like

Generally silent, but males produce low-pitched rattling, clicking sounds, and soft 'honks' during courtship displays.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Cristian Pinto · ChileCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Breeding males possess a vivid, sky-blue bill that contrasts sharply with their black head and white cheek patches.
The species is highly aquatic with legs positioned far back on the body, making them expert divers but nearly unable to walk on land.
Courtship involves a unique 'bubbling' display where the male beats his bill against his inflated chest to create a trail of bubbles.
While closely related to the Ruddy Duck, it is larger and lacks the white facial patch seen in northern populations.
Its stiff, narrow tail feathers are often held cocked at a 45- to 90-degree angle while the bird is swimming.

Habitat

Freshwater lakes, marshes, and alkaline lagoons in the high-altitude Puna and Andean zones.

Range

The Andes mountains from Colombia and Venezuela south to Tierra del Fuego.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Blue-billed DuckOxyura australis Lake DuckOxyura vittata Maccoa DuckOxyura maccoa Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensis White-headed DuckOxyura leucocephala

Heard a Andean Duck?

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