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-tailed Godwit

Limosa lapponica

A large, long-billed migratory shorebird renowned for its record-breaking, non-stop transoceanic flights across the Pacific.

What it sounds like

A sharp, rapid 'kak-kak-kak' and a more musical, whistling 'kirrick' given during flight or display.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Mark James Pearson · United KingdomCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Holds the world record for the longest non-stop migratory flight of any bird, traveling over 13,000 km from Alaska to New Zealand.
Prior to migration, individuals can double their body mass in fat and significantly shrink their internal organs to reduce weight.
The species exhibits sexual dimorphism in breeding plumage, with males displaying deep brick-red underparts while females remain duller.
Its slightly upturned bill is packed with sensory pits at the tip, allowing it to locate prey like polychaete worms deep in the mud.
Populations are divided into five distinct subspecies, each utilizing specific global flyways between the Arctic and the Southern Hemisphere.

Habitat

Arctic tundra and subarctic heath for breeding; coastal estuaries, mudflats, and sandy beaches for wintering.

Range

Breeds in Northern Europe, Asia, and Alaska; migrates to Africa, Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosa Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemastica Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoa

Heard a Bar-tailed Godwit?

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