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 Grebe

Tachybaptus novaehollandiae

A small, round-bodied waterbird and expert diver, the Australasian Grebe is easily identified by its chestnut face and yellow facial patch during the breeding season.

What it sounds like

A high-pitched, rapid, and metallic trilling or chittering sound, often delivered in a long descending sequence.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Marc Anderson · AustraliaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

During the breeding season, adults develop a prominent pale yellow patch of bare skin at the base of the bill known as a 'gape'.
They are capable of altering their buoyancy to submerge slowly like a submarine, often leaving only the head above water.
The species constructs floating nests made of aquatic vegetation that are typically anchored to submerged plants or logs.
Like many grebes, they ingest their own feathers to line the stomach, which helps protect the digestive tract from sharp fish bones.
Rather than traditional webbed feet, they possess lobed toes that act like individual hydrofoils for efficient underwater propulsion.

Habitat

Freshwater wetlands, farm dams, lakes, and slow-moving rivers with emergent vegetation.

Range

Australia, New Zealand, New Guinea, and neighboring Pacific islands.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Alaotra GrebeTachybaptus rufolavatus Least GrebeTachybaptus dominicus Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis Madagascar GrebeTachybaptus pelzelnii

Heard a Australasian Grebe?

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