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

Black-backed Bittern

Botaurus dubius

The Black-backed Bittern is a small, highly elusive heron native to Australian wetlands, known for its cryptic plumage and secretive nature.

What it sounds like

A deep, resonant, and repetitive 'woof-woof-woof' or a low-pitched croaking sound.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

No reference call found yet · Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is one of the world's smallest herons, with adults typically measuring between 25 and 36 centimeters in length.
The species exhibits significant sexual dimorphism, with males possessing a distinctive black mantle that contrasts with their buff-colored necks.
To avoid predators, it performs a 'freeze' display called the bittern posture, pointing its bill skyward to mimic the surrounding reeds.
Formerly classified as a subspecies of the Little Bittern (Ixobrychus minutus), it is now recognized as a distinct species endemic to the Australasian region.
Its diet is specialized, consisting primarily of aquatic invertebrates, small fish, and frogs caught by stealthily stalking through dense vegetation.

Habitat

Freshwater wetlands with dense cover, particularly reedbeds composed of Phragmites and Typha species.

Range

Endemic to Australia (primarily the southeast and southwest) and southern New Guinea.

Similar & commonly confused birds

American BitternBotaurus lentiginosus Australasian BitternBotaurus poiciloptilus Black BitternBotaurus flavicollis Cinnamon BitternBotaurus cinnamomeus Dwarf BitternBotaurus sturmii Eurasian BitternBotaurus stellaris Great BitternBotaurus stellaris Least BitternBotaurus exilis

Heard a Black-backed Bittern?

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