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

Basra Reed Warbler

Acrocephalus griseldis

The Basra Reed Warbler is a large, long-billed songbird specialized for life in the dense papyrus marshes of the Middle East.

What it sounds like

A loud, harsh, and rhythmic series of deep croaks and grating notes, typically rendered as 'karra-karra-kreet-kreet'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Keramat Hafezi Birgani · IranCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is classified as Endangered due to the extensive drainage and destruction of its primary breeding habitat in Iraq.
It possesses a notably longer, heavier bill and more slender body than its close relative, the Great Reed Warbler.
The species is a long-distance migrant, traveling from the Mesopotamian marshes to wintering grounds in East Africa.
It was only recognized as a full species in the mid-20th century, having previously been treated as a subspecies.
During the 1990s, the population plummeted as over 90% of its core breeding wetlands were drained for political and agricultural reasons.

Habitat

Freshwater marshes dominated by dense reedbeds of Phragmites and papyrus.

Range

Breeds primarily in southern Iraq and Kuwait; winters in East Africa, including Kenya, Tanzania, and Malawi.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Aguiguan Reed WarblerAcrocephalus nijoi Aquatic WarblerAcrocephalus paludicola Australian Reed WarblerAcrocephalus australis Black-browed Reed WarblerAcrocephalus bistrigiceps Blunt-winged WarblerAcrocephalus concinens Blyth's Reed WarblerAcrocephalus dumetorum Cape Verde Swamp WarblerAcrocephalus brevipennis Caroline Reed WarblerAcrocephalus syrinx

Heard a Basra Reed Warbler?

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Identify a bird by its song