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

Bufflehead

Bucephala albeola

The Bufflehead is North America's smallest diving duck, characterized by the male's striking white wedge-shaped head patch and iridescent plumage.

What it sounds like

Generally silent; males give a squeaky 'shree' during courtship, while females emit a hoarse 'quack' near the nest.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 2:37

Rec. Richard E. Webster · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Nests almost exclusively in abandoned holes created by Northern Flickers.
The name is a corruption of 'buffalo head,' referring to the male's disproportionately large head shape.
Unlike most diving ducks, they can take flight directly from the water's surface without a running start.
They are primarily monogamous, often remaining with the same mate for several years.
Buffleheads spend up to half of their daylight hours underwater foraging for aquatic invertebrates.

Habitat

Wooded lakes and ponds for breeding; coastal bays, estuaries, and ice-free inland lakes during winter.

Range

Breeds in the boreal forests of Canada and Alaska; winters along both North American coasts and across the southern United States.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Barrow's GoldeneyeBucephala islandica Common GoldeneyeBucephala clangula

Heard a Bufflehead?

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