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

Dunlin

Calidris alpina

The Dunlin is a hardy, medium-sized sandpiper recognized by its slightly decurved bill and distinctive black belly patch during the breeding season. It is one of the most widespread shorebirds in the Northern Hemisphere, often seen in large, synchronized flocks.

What it sounds like

A distinctive, buzzy, and nasal 'treeee' or a shrill, rasping whistle given in flight.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Le Louaver Manuel · FranceCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

In breeding plumage, it is unique among similar shorebirds for having a large, jet-black patch on its belly.
The bill features sensitive Herbst corpuscles at the tip, allowing the bird to detect prey vibrations in the mud through 'remote touch'.
Flocks are famous for their highly coordinated aerial maneuvers, twisting and turning in unison to confuse Peregrine Falcons and other raptors.
During winter, their plumage transforms into a cryptic 'sandpiper gray,' earning them the nickname 'red-backed sandpiper' only in summer.
There are roughly 10 recognized subspecies worldwide, varying primarily in bill length and the intensity of their rufous dorsal coloration.

Habitat

Tundra during breeding; coastal mudflats, estuaries, and sandy beaches during migration and winter.

Range

Circumpolar; breeds in the Arctic and sub-Arctic, wintering along the coasts of North America, Europe, and Asia.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdii Broad-billed SandpiperCalidris falcinellus Buff-breasted SandpiperCalidris subruficollis Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferruginea Great KnotCalidris tenuirostris Least SandpiperCalidris minutilla Little StintCalidris minuta Long-toed StintCalidris subminuta

Heard a Dunlin?

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