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-necked Swan

Cygnus melancoryphus

The Black-necked Swan is the largest waterfowl native to South America, instantly recognizable by its striking contrast of a velvety black neck and head against a pure white body. It is the only swan species in the Southern Hemisphere to exhibit this distinct bicolor plumage.

What it sounds like

Soft, musical, high-pitched whistles that are notably less harsh than the honking of many other swan species.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Cristian Pinto · ChileCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is the smallest member of the genus Cygnus, despite being a large-bodied bird.
A fleshy red caruncle, or knob, sits at the base of the blue-grey bill and is typically more pronounced in males during breeding season.
Cygnets are born with white or light-grey down and only develop the diagnostic black neck after their first year.
Parents are frequently observed carrying their young on their backs while swimming to provide protection and thermoregulation.
Due to their heavy weight and relatively short wings, they require a long, splashing run across the water to become airborne.

Habitat

Freshwater marshes, shallow inland lakes, lagoons, and brackish coastal estuaries.

Range

Southern South America, including Chile, Argentina, and the Falkland Islands, migrating as far north as southern Brazil in winter.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Black SwanCygnus atratus Mute SwanCygnus olor Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinator Tundra SwanCygnus columbianus Whooper SwanCygnus cygnus

Heard a Black-necked Swan?

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