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

Ash-throated Crake

Mustelirallus albicollis

A small, elusive Neotropical rail identified by its slate-gray underparts, white throat, and streaked olive-brown back.

What it sounds like

A rapid, mechanical series of clicking or knocking notes, typically rendered as 'kek-kek-kek-kek'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:41

Rec. JAYRSON ARAUJO DE OLIVEIRA · BrazilCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Primarily crepuscular or nocturnal, it is more often detected by its rhythmic vocalizations than by sight.
Unlike many rails that prefer deep marshes, this species favors seasonally flooded grasslands and wet pastures.
Adults exhibit a striking contrast between their slate-gray plumage and bright red irises.
Its cryptic, black-streaked upperparts provide excellent camouflage against the shadows of dense vegetation.
It belongs to the genus Mustelirallus, a group of rails characterized by their relatively short bills and shy behavior.

Habitat

Seasonally flooded grasslands, wet meadows, and agricultural fields like rice paddies.

Range

Widespread but disjunct across South America, including the Amazon basin, the Pantanal, and the Guianas.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Colombian CrakeMustelirallus colombianus Paint-billed CrakeMustelirallus erythrops Zapata RailMustelirallus cerverai

Heard a Ash-throated Crake?

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