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-winged Pratincole

Glareola nordmanni

A graceful, swallow-like wader distinguished by its dark underwings and exceptional aerial agility while hunting insects.

What it sounds like

A sharp, piercing 'kyik' or 'kett-kett', similar to a tern but often more nasal in quality.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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

Field notes

Distinguished from the similar Collared Pratincole by its entirely black underwing coverts and lack of a white trailing edge on the wing.
Primarily an aerial insectivore, it is well-known for following swarms of locusts and dragonflies across the steppe.
Though a member of the wader family, it possesses short legs and long, pointed wings optimized for sustained flight rather than wading.
Undergoes an impressive long-distance migration from the Palearctic steppes to wintering grounds in southern Africa.
Currently classified as Near Threatened due to the loss of its specialized steppe-land breeding habitats to intensified agriculture.

Habitat

Open steppes, dry mudflats, and alkaline pans, typically located near shallow water bodies.

Range

Breeds in Southeast Europe and Central Asia; winters in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Australian PratincoleGlareola isabella Collared PratincoleGlareola pratincola Gray PratincoleGlareola cinerea Madagascar PratincoleGlareola ocularis Oriental PratincoleGlareola maldivarum Rock PratincoleGlareola nuchalis Small PratincoleGlareola lactea

Heard a Black-winged Pratincole?

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