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

Cackling Goose

Branta hutchinsii

A small, compact version of the Canada Goose, the Cackling Goose is a distinct species characterized by its short neck and stubby bill. It was taxonomically split from the Canada Goose in 2004 based on genetic and morphological evidence.

What it sounds like

A high-pitched, shrill, and rapid cackling or squeaky 'hink' or 'yink' that lacks the resonance of larger geese.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Greg Irving · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Some subspecies, such as the 'Minima' Cackling Goose, are barely larger than a Mallard duck.
The species is distinguished by a much higher-pitched, squeaky vocalization compared to the deep honks of larger geese.
The Aleutian subspecies was nearly driven to extinction by introduced foxes but staged a major recovery after intensive conservation.
They possess a steeper forehead and a proportionately shorter, more triangular bill than the Canada Goose.
During migration, they often travel in large, noisy flocks and congregate in agricultural fields to forage on waste grain.

Habitat

Arctic tundra for breeding; coastal marshes, pastures, and agricultural fields for wintering.

Range

Breeds in the North American Arctic and Greenland; winters across the western and central United States and northern Mexico.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsis BrantBranta bernicla Canada GooseBranta canadensis Hawaiian GooseBranta sandvicensis Red-breasted GooseBranta ruficollis

Heard a Cackling Goose?

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