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-bellied Sandgrouse

Pterocles orientalis

A large, heavy-bodied sandgrouse of arid plains, distinguished by its namesake black underparts and remarkable ability to transport water via its plumage.

What it sounds like

A deep, rolling, and bubbling 'choo-koo-koo' or 'churr-rur-rur' typically delivered in flight.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Frank Lambert · KazakhstanCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

Males possess specialized belly feathers that function like a sponge, allowing them to carry water to chicks over distances of up to 30 kilometers.
Despite their desert habitat, they must drink daily and will fly long distances to reach traditional watering holes at dawn.
They are exceptionally well-camouflaged when crouched, with dorsal patterns that mimic the light and shadow of stony ground.
Unlike many birds, they have feathered tarsi (lower legs) to provide insulation against the extreme temperature of the sun-baked soil.
The species is highly gregarious outside of the nesting season, often congregating in flocks of several hundred birds.

Habitat

Stony semi-deserts, dry plateaus, and fallow agricultural fields with minimal vegetation.

Range

Iberian Peninsula, North Africa, the Middle East, and across Central Asia to northwest China.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Black-faced SandgrousePterocles decoratus Burchell's SandgrousePterocles burchelli Chestnut-bellied SandgrousePterocles exustus Crowned SandgrousePterocles coronatus Double-banded SandgrousePterocles bicinctus Four-banded SandgrousePterocles quadricinctus Lichtenstein's SandgrousePterocles lichtensteinii Madagascar SandgrousePterocles personatus

Heard a Black-bellied Sandgrouse?

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