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

Banded Lapwing

Vanellus tricolor

The Banded Lapwing is a medium-sized, ground-dwelling plover endemic to Australia, distinguished by its bold black breast band and small red facial wattles.

What it sounds like

A mournful, high-pitched 'chee-chee' or a sharp, metallic 'er-chill-char' frequently heard during nocturnal flights.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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

Field notes

Displays a prominent white stripe behind the eye that contrasts with a solid black cap.
Performs elaborate 'broken-wing' distraction displays to lead predators away from its vulnerable ground-scraped nest.
Prefers significantly drier, shorter-grass environments than its more common relative, the Masked Lapwing.
Possesses small, sharp spurs on the carpal joints of the wings used for territorial defense.
Maintains a highly nomadic lifestyle, moving across the interior in response to erratic rainfall and food availability.

Habitat

Short-grass plains, arid gibber stony deserts, and heavily grazed agricultural paddocks.

Range

Widespread throughout the southern half of Australia and the semi-arid interior.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Andean LapwingVanellus resplendens Black-headed LapwingVanellus tectus Black-winged LapwingVanellus melanopterus Blacksmith LapwingVanellus armatus Brown-chested LapwingVanellus superciliosus Crowned LapwingVanellus coronatus Gray-headed LapwingVanellus cinereus Javan LapwingVanellus macropterus

Heard a Banded Lapwing?

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