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 Bittern

Botaurus flavicollis

A medium-sized, secretive heron characterized by its dark, sooty plumage and striking yellow streaks on the sides of its neck.

What it sounds like

A low-pitched, repetitive booming 'coo-coo-coo' or a resonant 'oom-oom-oom'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

No reference call found yet · Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is primarily crepuscular or nocturnal, preferring to hunt for fish and frogs during the low light of dawn and dusk.
When threatened, it adopts a 'bittern posture,' freezing with its bill pointed skyward to blend in with surrounding reeds and branches.
Unlike many other bitterns, it frequently nests in trees or shrubs overhanging water rather than solely in reed beds.
It is the largest species in the Ixobrychus genus, often bridging the morphological gap to the larger Botaurus bitterns.
During the breeding season, males produce a deep, resonant booming sound that can be heard from a significant distance.

Habitat

Densely vegetated wetlands, riverbanks, mangroves, and swamp forests.

Range

South Asia, East Asia, Southeast Asia, and Australia.

Similar & commonly confused birds

American BitternBotaurus lentiginosus Australasian BitternBotaurus poiciloptilus Black-backed BitternBotaurus dubius Cinnamon BitternBotaurus cinnamomeus Dwarf BitternBotaurus sturmii Eurasian BitternBotaurus stellaris Great BitternBotaurus stellaris Least BitternBotaurus exilis

Heard a Black Bittern?

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