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

Australasian Bittern

Botaurus poiciloptilus

A large, stocky heron with intricate brown-and-buff cryptic plumage, specialized for a secretive existence within dense wetland vegetation.

What it sounds like

A deep, resonant, multi-syllabic 'boom' reminiscent of a distant foghorn or a low-pitched hum, capable of traveling several kilometers.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 6:22

Rec. John Graff · AustraliaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Adopts a distinctive 'freeze' posture with its neck and bill pointed skyward to mimic surrounding reeds when threatened.
Males possess a specialized esophagus that functions as a resonating chamber to produce powerful, low-frequency vocalizations.
The species is globally Endangered, with primary threats being the loss and fragmentation of permanent freshwater wetlands.
It is a generalist predator, consuming a diverse diet that includes eels, frogs, crayfish, and occasionally small mammals.
Known in New Zealand by the Māori name Matuku-hūrepo, where it holds significant cultural and ecological importance.

Habitat

Dense permanent freshwater wetlands dominated by tall emergent vegetation such as Phragmites, Typha, and Bolboschoenus species.

Range

South-eastern and south-western Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, and New Caledonia.

Similar & commonly confused birds

American BitternBotaurus lentiginosus Black BitternBotaurus flavicollis Black-backed BitternBotaurus dubius Cinnamon BitternBotaurus cinnamomeus Dwarf BitternBotaurus sturmii Eurasian BitternBotaurus stellaris Great BitternBotaurus stellaris Least BitternBotaurus exilis

Heard a Australasian Bittern?

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Identify a bird by its song