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

Chatham Islands Oystercatcher

Haematopus chathamensis

A rare, robust shorebird endemic to the Chatham Islands, characterized by its pied black-and-white plumage and thick, bright orange-red bill.

What it sounds like

A loud, piercing 'kleep' or 'peep', and a rapid, high-pitched rhythmic piping trill used during territorial disputes.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:32

Rec. David Boyle · New ZealandCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is one of the rarest oystercatcher species in the world, with a population that recovered from a low of 50 individuals in the 1970s.
The species is non-migratory and strictly sedentary, typically remaining on the same stretch of coastline year-round.
Intensive conservation efforts, including predator control and nest relocation away from high tides, have been critical to its survival.
Pairs are long-term monogamous and maintain highly stable territories that they defend with loud piping displays.
Nests are vulnerable scrapes in the sand or shingle, often placed just above the high-water mark among kelp or driftwood.

Habitat

Rocky coastlines, sandy beaches, and intertidal reef platforms.

Range

Chatham Islands archipelago (Chatham, Pitt, South East, and Mangere), New Zealand.

Similar & commonly confused birds

African OystercatcherHaematopus moquini American OystercatcherHaematopus palliatus Black OystercatcherHaematopus bachmani Blackish OystercatcherHaematopus ater Canarian OystercatcherHaematopus meadewaldoi Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus Magellanic OystercatcherHaematopus leucopodus Pied OystercatcherHaematopus longirostris

Heard a Chatham Islands Oystercatcher?

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