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 Scoter

Melanitta nigra

The Common Scoter is a large, dark sea duck known for its striking all-black male plumage and social wintering behavior on open waters.

What it sounds like

Males emit a repetitive, melodic, flute-like whistling 'pü-pü-pü', while females produce a harsh, growling 're-re-re'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:28

Rec. Mark James Pearson · United KingdomCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

The adult male is the only sea duck in its range to possess entirely black plumage, including its wings.
They are powerful divers, reaching depths of up to 30 meters to forage for mollusks and crustaceans on the seabed.
During winter, they form massive, dense flocks called 'rafts' that can contain several thousand individuals.
Unlike most ducks, they are highly sensitive to offshore wind farm developments, often avoiding areas with turbines.
While they are marine for much of the year, they migrate to remote freshwater tundra lakes and moorlands to breed.

Habitat

Coastal marine waters during winter; freshwater tundra pools and arctic lakes during breeding season.

Range

Breeds in Northern Europe and Asia; winters along the coasts of Western Europe and Northwest Africa.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Black ScoterMelanitta americana Stejneger's ScoterMelanitta stejnegeri Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillata Velvet ScoterMelanitta fusca White-winged ScoterMelanitta deglandi

Heard a Common Scoter?

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