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 Quail

Coturnix coturnix

A small, rotound ground bird of the pheasant family, notable for its cryptic streaked plumage and impressive long-distance migrations.

What it sounds like

A loud, rhythmic three-note whistle often transcribed as 'wet-my-lips' or 'pit-pi-lit'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:07

Rec. David Tattersley · United KingdomCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is the only species in the order Galliformes (gamebirds) that is truly migratory.
Despite their plump appearance, they are capable of crossing the Mediterranean Sea and Sahara Desert during migration.
The species is highly secretive and rarely seen, preferring to crouch or run through tall grass rather than take flight.
In ancient Egypt, the quail chick was used as a hieroglyph to represent the 'w' or 'u' sound.
Males are known to be serially polygamous, frequently moving between different female territories during the breeding season.

Habitat

Open grasslands, meadows, and agricultural fields, particularly cereal crops like wheat and barley.

Range

Breeds across most of Europe and Western Asia; winters in sub-Saharan Africa and the Indian subcontinent.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Harlequin QuailCoturnix delegorguei Japanese QuailCoturnix japonica New Zealand QuailCoturnix novaezelandiae Rain QuailCoturnix coromandelica Stubble QuailCoturnix pectoralis

Heard a Common Quail?

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