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 Shelduck

Tadorna tadorna

A large, striking waterfowl species that bridges the gap between geese and ducks, easily recognized by its white body, chestnut breast band, and bright red bill.

What it sounds like

Males emit a thin, trilling whistle; females produce a loud, rapid, and nasal 'ak-ak-ak' cackle.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:11

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

Field notes

Males develop a prominent fleshy knob at the base of their bill during the breeding season.
They frequently nest in underground cavities, often utilizing abandoned rabbit burrows or hollow trees.
Almost the entire Northwest European population migrates to the Wadden Sea each summer for a synchronized moult.
They exhibit 'crèching' behavior, where a few 'auntie' birds guard large groups of ducklings from multiple different broods.
Their specialized bill is adapted to sift through mud for the tiny snail Peringia ulvae, their primary food source.

Habitat

Coastal estuaries, salt marshes, mudflats, and occasionally inland saline lakes.

Range

Widespread across temperate Eurasia and North Africa.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Australian ShelduckTadorna tadornoides Crested ShelduckTadorna cristata Paradise ShelduckTadorna variegata Ruddy ShelduckTadorna ferruginea South African ShelduckTadorna cana

Heard a Common Shelduck?

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