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

Belted Kingfisher

Megaceryle alcyon

A stocky, large-headed water bird known for its shaggy crest and dramatic head-first dives into water to catch fish.

What it sounds like

A loud, piercing, and mechanical-sounding wooden rattle.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:13

Rec. Rory Nefdt · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is one of the few bird species where the female is more colorful than the male, sporting an extra rufous-colored belly band.
They excavate nesting burrows into vertical earthen banks that can reach lengths of up to 8 feet.
Kingfisher eyes contain two foveae, allowing them to maintain sharp focus while transitioning from air to water during a dive.
Nestlings have extremely acidic stomachs that allow them to digest the bones and scales of fish whole.
They are highly solitary and territorial, patrolling a specific stretch of shoreline and chasing off rivals.

Habitat

Edges of lakes, rivers, streams, and coastal estuaries with high perches and vertical dirt banks.

Range

Widespread across North America, migrating to the southern United States, Mexico, and Central America in winter.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Crested KingfisherMegaceryle lugubris Giant KingfisherMegaceryle maxima Ringed KingfisherMegaceryle torquata

Heard a Belted Kingfisher?

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