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

Chinese Pond-Heron

Ardeola bacchus

A small East Asian heron known for its dramatic seasonal transformation from streaky brown to a striking chestnut and slate-blue breeding plumage.

What it sounds like

Generally silent, but produces a harsh, raspy 'kwa-kwa' or 'kyah' when alarmed or at nesting colonies.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Geoff Carey · ChinaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Though cryptically colored when perched, it appears almost entirely white in flight due to its hidden white wings and tail.
During the breeding season, it develops long, elegant plumes on its back and a deep wine-red neck.
It is a patient 'sit-and-wait' predator that can remain motionless for long periods while hunting fish, frogs, and crustaceans.
While primarily solitary hunters, they are colonial nesters, often sharing rookeries with other egret and heron species.
Distinguishing it from the nearly identical Javan and Indian Pond-Herons is extremely difficult outside of the breeding season.

Habitat

Freshwater and saltwater wetlands, including rice paddies, marshes, mangroves, and pond edges.

Range

East Asia and Southeast Asia, ranging from China and Japan south to Indonesia and the Andaman Islands.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Indian Pond-HeronArdeola grayii Javan Pond-HeronArdeola speciosa Malagasy Pond-HeronArdeola idae Rufous-bellied HeronArdeola rufiventris Squacco HeronArdeola ralloides

Heard a Chinese Pond-Heron?

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