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

Cape Teal

Anas capensis

The Cape Teal is a small, pale-colored dabbling duck distinguished by its upturned pink bill and mottled greyish-brown plumage. It is a highly adaptable species known for its ability to thrive in saline environments where other waterfowl cannot survive.

What it sounds like

A high-pitched, nasal whistling 'piew-piew' from the male; a soft, low-frequency quack from the female.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. African Bioacoustics Community · South AfricaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

They are remarkably salt-tolerant, often inhabiting hypersaline lagoons and soda lakes that are too alkaline for most other ducks.
Unlike many dabbling ducks, Cape Teals often feed by diving or using fine lamellae in their bills to filter-feed on microscopic organisms.
This species is largely non-migratory but will travel long distances nomadically to find suitable ephemeral wetlands after rainfall.
The Cape Teal is unusually aggressive during the breeding season, frequently attacking and chasing away much larger waterfowl.
Both sexes look nearly identical year-round, lacking the dramatic seasonal plumage changes seen in many other Anas species.

Habitat

Shallow brackish or saline lagoons, estuaries, inland salt pans, and occasional freshwater marshes.

Range

Sub-Saharan Africa, predominantly in the southern and eastern regions, with a localized population in the Chad basin.

Similar & commonly confused birds

African Black DuckAnas sparsa American Black DuckAnas rubripes Andaman TealAnas albogularis Andean TealAnas andium Auckland Islands TealAnas aucklandica Bernier's TealAnas bernieri Brown TealAnas chlorotis Campbell Islands TealAnas nesiotis

Heard a Cape Teal?

Open Birdsong, tap record, and identify the bird singing near you in seconds — then collect it in your field journal.

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