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

Bar-headed Goose

Anser indicus

The Bar-headed Goose is a medium-sized pale goose renowned for its extraordinary physiological adaptations that allow it to migrate over the Himalayas at extreme altitudes.

What it sounds like

A loud, nasal, and musical honking, typically rendered as a high-pitched 'aang-aang' or 'ga-ga-ga'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Albert Lastukhin · ChinaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is one of the world's highest-flying birds, capable of reaching altitudes of nearly 8,800 meters (29,000 feet) during migration.
The species possesses a specialized type of hemoglobin with a high affinity for oxygen, allowing it to exert itself in hypoxic environments.
Unlike many birds that rely on tailwinds, these geese often fly at night or early morning when the air is cold and dense to improve lift.
They have a significantly higher density of capillaries and mitochondria in their flight muscles compared to other waterfowl species.
During their trans-Himalayan journey, they can cover over 1,000 miles in a single day, often completing the crossing in under 8 hours.

Habitat

High-altitude alpine lakes, plateaus, and marshes during breeding; lowland rivers and agricultural fields during winter.

Range

Central Asia and the Tibetan Plateau (breeding); South Asia, including India and Myanmar (wintering).

Similar & commonly confused birds

Emperor GooseAnser canagicus Graylag GooseAnser anser Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifrons Lesser White-fronted GooseAnser erythropus Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchus Ross's GooseAnser rossii Snow GooseAnser caerulescens Swan GooseAnser cygnoides

Heard a Bar-headed Goose?

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