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

Buff-collared Nightjar

Antrostomus ridgwayi

A cryptic, nocturnal insectivore of the American Southwest and Mexico, distinguished by its tawny hindneck band and staccato, rhythmic song.

What it sounds like

An accelerating, staccato series of notes often described as 'cook-a-ree-a-ree-a-ree' or 'tuk-a-luk,' resembling a distant engine starting.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / --:--

Rec. Manuel Grosselet · MexicoCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is named for the prominent buffy or orange-tawny collar that encircles its throat and nape.
Unlike many nightjars that perch on high branches, this species often sings from the ground or low rocks.
It was formerly known as Ridgway's Whip-poor-will, named after the American ornithologist Robert Ridgway.
Breeding activity and foraging are highly synchronized with the lunar cycle to maximize visibility for catching night-flying insects.
They do not build nests, instead laying two eggs directly onto the leaf litter or rocky soil under dense vegetation.

Habitat

Arid thorn scrub, rocky canyons, and dry deciduous forests.

Range

Southern Arizona and New Mexico through western and southern Mexico to Honduras.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Chuck-will's-widowAntrostomus carolinensis Cuban NightjarAntrostomus cubanensis Dusky NightjarAntrostomus saturatus Eastern Whip-poor-willAntrostomus vociferus Hispaniolan NightjarAntrostomus ekmani Mexican Whip-poor-willAntrostomus arizonae Puerto Rican NightjarAntrostomus noctitherus Puerto Rican NightjarAntrostomus noctitherus

Heard a Buff-collared Nightjar?

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