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

Austral Rail

Rallus antarcticus

A small, elusive wetland bird endemic to the southern cone of South America, famously rediscovered in 1998 after being feared extinct for decades.

What it sounds like

A rhythmic, metallic series of 'kek' notes that often accelerate into a rapid, descending trill.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Peter Boesman · ChileCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

It was missing from scientific records for over 40 years until its rediscovery in the Santa Cruz Province of Argentina.
Though it resembles a miniature Virginia Rail, it is distinguished by its smaller size and more heavily barred flanks.
The species is currently classified as Vulnerable due to the degradation of its specialized wetland habitats by livestock grazing.
It is a migratory rail, breeding in the cold marshes of Patagonia and moving north to central Argentina for the winter.
Despite its rarity, it can be locally common in specific rush-dominated marshes containing Schoenoplectus californicus.

Habitat

Freshwater marshes, wet meadows, and dense reed beds.

Range

Southern Argentina and Chile, with wintering grounds extending into central Argentina.

Similar & commonly confused birds

African RailRallus caerulescens Aztec RailRallus tenuirostris Bogota RailRallus semiplumbeus Brown-cheeked RailRallus indicus Clapper RailRallus crepitans Ecuadorian RailRallus aequatorialis King RailRallus elegans Madagascar RailRallus madagascariensis

Heard a Austral Rail?

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