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

Common Eider

Somateria mollissima

The Common Eider is a large, heavy-bodied sea duck recognized for its unique wedge-shaped profile and its culturally significant insulating down.

What it sounds like

Males give a low, rhythmic, hauntingly human-like 'ah-hooo', while females produce a hoarse, guttural 'gog-gog-gog'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 1:52

Rec. Anthony McGeehan · United KingdomCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is the largest duck in the Northern Hemisphere, often reaching weights of over 2.5 kilograms.
Female eiders line their nests with specialized down feathers plucked from their breasts, which are sustainably harvested for high-end bedding.
They are capable of diving to depths of 20 meters or more to forage for blue mussels, which they swallow whole and crush in their muscular gizzards.
The species is highly gregarious, often forming large communal 'crèches' where a few adult females guard dozens of ducklings from multiple broods.
The male's striking plumage includes a unique pale celery-green patch on the nape of the neck, a rare color in avian feathers.

Habitat

Rocky marine coastlines, shallow coastal waters, and arctic tundra islands.

Range

Northern coasts of North America, Europe, and eastern Siberia.

Similar & commonly confused birds

King EiderSomateria spectabilis Spectacled EiderSomateria fischeri

Heard a Common Eider?

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