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-tailed Godwit

Limosa limosa

A large, elegant wader characterized by its long straight bill and striking black-and-white wing patterns visible in flight.

What it sounds like

A loud, rhythmic, and nasal 'wicka-wicka-wicka' or a shrill 'reeta-reeta'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Joost van Bruggen · NetherlandsCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

Displays a bold white wing bar and a distinctive black terminal band on a white tail when flying.
Males develop a rich orange-chestnut plumage on the head, neck, and breast during the breeding season.
The bill tip contains sensitive rhynchokinesis, allowing the bird to open the tip while the rest of the bill remains closed.
Performs complex aerial courtship displays involving steep tumbles and vocal 'grutto-grutto' sequences.
Populations are categorized as Near Threatened due to the loss of traditional wet meadow nesting sites.

Habitat

Breeds in damp lowland grasslands and fens; winters on coastal mudflats, estuaries, and inland lagoons.

Range

Palearctic; breeds from Iceland across Eurasia, wintering in Western Europe, Africa, South Asia, and Australia.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponica Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemastica Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoa

Heard a Black-tailed Godwit?

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