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

Blue-winged Kookaburra

Dacelo leachii

A large, robust kingfisher distinguished by its striking blue wing patches and pale eyes, native to the tropical regions of northern Australia and New Guinea.

What it sounds like

A harsh, repetitive clucking or barking 'kak-kak-kak' that descends into a chaotic cackle, lacking the rhythmic 'laugh' of the Laughing Kookaburra.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Marc Anderson · AustraliaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

Exhibits sexual dimorphism where males have solid blue tails while females possess reddish-brown barred tails.
Unlike the Laughing Kookaburra, this species has distinctively pale, creamy-white eyes.
They are cooperative breeders, with older offspring often remaining in the family group to help raise the next brood.
Their diet is highly varied, ranging from large insects and frogs to snakes, lizards, and small mammals.
To subdue large prey, they frequently beat it against a hard branch to break bones and soften the tissue before swallowing.

Habitat

Tropical savannas, open woodlands, and paperbark swamps near water sources.

Range

Northern Australia and southern New Guinea.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Laughing KookaburraDacelo novaeguineae Rufous-bellied KookaburraDacelo gaudichaud Rufous-bellied KookaburraDacelo gaudichaud Shovel-billed KookaburraDacelo rex Spangled KookaburraDacelo tyro Spangled KookaburraDacelo tyro

Heard a Blue-winged Kookaburra?

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