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 Loon

Gavia immer

A large, powerful waterbird of northern wilderness lakes, iconic for its striking black-and-white breeding plumage and haunting vocalizations.

What it sounds like

A haunting repertoire including mournful wails, laughing tremolos, low moans, and complex, territorial yodels.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Denis Provencher · CanadaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Unlike most birds, Common Loons have solid, heavy bones that act as ballast for deep-sea diving reaching depths of 200 feet.
Their legs are positioned so far back on their bodies that they cannot walk on land, only pushing themselves along on their bellies.
To take flight, these heavy birds require a 'runway' of up to several hundred yards of open water to gain enough speed.
During the breeding season, their eyes turn a vivid, piercing red, which may assist with underwater vision.
Common Loon parents frequently carry their young chicks on their backs to protect them from predators and keep them warm.

Habitat

Large, clear freshwater lakes during the breeding season; coastal marine waters and estuaries during winter.

Range

Breeds across Canada, Alaska, and the northern United States; winters along both North American coasts and parts of Europe.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Arctic LoonGavia arctica Pacific LoonGavia pacifica Red-throated LoonGavia stellata Yellow-billed LoonGavia adamsii

Heard a Common Loon?

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