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

Blackish Oystercatcher

Haematopus ater

A large, dark shorebird of South American rocky coasts, distinguished by its entirely sooty-black plumage and stout, blood-red bill.

What it sounds like

A series of loud, rapid, high-pitched piping whistles, typically 'ke-wee ke-wee' or 'pip-pip-pip'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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

Field notes

Possesses a laterally compressed bill specialized for prying limpets and chitons off wave-washed rocks.
Unlike many other oystercatcher species, it strictly avoids sandy beaches, preferring rugged, rocky intertidal zones.
Nests consist of a shallow scrape on rock ledges or shingle, often incorporating shell fragments for camouflage.
Pairs are highly territorial and engage in loud, ritualized 'piping' ceremonies to defend their foraging grounds.
Despite its name, the plumage is actually a very deep chocolate-brown to sooty black, appearing darkest when wet.

Habitat

Rugged rocky shorelines and wave-swept intertidal zones.

Range

Coastal South America from Peru and Argentina south to Tierra del Fuego and the Falkland Islands.

Similar & commonly confused birds

African OystercatcherHaematopus moquini American OystercatcherHaematopus palliatus Black OystercatcherHaematopus bachmani Canarian OystercatcherHaematopus meadewaldoi Chatham Islands OystercatcherHaematopus chathamensis Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus Magellanic OystercatcherHaematopus leucopodus Pied OystercatcherHaematopus longirostris

Heard a Blackish Oystercatcher?

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