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

Dot-winged Crake

Laterallus spiloptera

The Dot-winged Crake is a tiny, elusive rail of southeastern South American wetlands, characterized by its dark slate-grey plumage and distinct white-spotted wings.

What it sounds like

A rapid, descending series of metallic notes, often described as a rhythmic 'kee-kee-kee-krrr' or sharp piping.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Cristian Pinto Fernandez · ChileCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

At only 14–15 cm in length, it is one of the smallest members of the family Rallidae.
The species is classified as Vulnerable due to habitat fragmentation and the drainage of temperate marshes for agriculture.
It features striking red irises that provide a sharp contrast against its dark, soot-colored head.
While most crakes have barred flanks, this species is uniquely identified by the fine white spotting on its wing coverts and back.
It is highly secretive and rarely flies, preferring to escape predators by running through dense, tunnel-like paths in marsh vegetation.

Habitat

Dense temperate marshes, pampas grasslands, and brackish coastal lagoons with tall emergent vegetation.

Range

Southeastern South America, primarily in northern Argentina, Uruguay, and southern Brazil.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Black RailLaterallus jamaicensis Galapagos RailLaterallus spilonota Gray-breasted CrakeLaterallus exilis Inaccessible Island RailLaterallus rogersi Ruddy CrakeLaterallus ruber Rufous-sided CrakeLaterallus melanophaius Rusty-flanked CrakeLaterallus levraudi Rusty-flanked CrakeLaterallus levraudi

Heard a Dot-winged Crake?

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