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

Canvasback

Aythya valisineria

The Canvasback is a large, elegant diving duck characterized by its unique sloping profile and striking reddish-head and white-body plumage in males.

What it sounds like

Males produce a low, mechanical-sounding 'ik-ik-cooo'; females give a harsh 'kuck-kuck' or braying 'quack'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Paul Driver · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is the largest species of diving duck in the genus Aythya found in North America.
The species name 'valisineria' honors its favorite winter food, wild celery (Vallisneria americana).
Its distinct wedge-shaped head profile is unique among North American waterfowl, lacking a defined forehead.
Canvasbacks are incredibly fast fliers, capable of reaching speeds up to 72 miles per hour during migration.
They are known as 'the aristocrat of ducks' due to their stately appearance and historical popularity in gourmet dining.

Habitat

Prairie potholes for breeding; large lakes, estuaries, and brackish coastal bays for wintering.

Range

Breeds in central North America and Alaska; winters along the Atlantic, Pacific, and Gulf coasts and interior southern US.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Baer's PochardAythya baeri Common PochardAythya ferina Ferruginous DuckAythya nyroca Greater ScaupAythya marila HardheadAythya australis Lesser ScaupAythya affinis Madagascar PochardAythya innotata New Zealand ScaupAythya novaeseelandiae

Heard a Canvasback?

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