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

Dusky Moorhen

Gallinula tenebrosa

A medium-sized, dark-plumaged waterbird with a distinctive red facial shield, common throughout Australasian freshwater systems.

What it sounds like

A harsh, nasal screech or squawk, frequently rendered as 'kurr-uk'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Marc Anderson · AustraliaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

Distinguished from the similar Common Moorhen by the absence of a white stripe along its flanks.
Possesses a bright red frontal shield and bill that terminates in a conspicuous yellow tip.
Engages in cooperative breeding where multiple members of a social group help raise a single brood.
The species is omnivorous, feeding on a varied diet of aquatic plants, seeds, insects, and occasionally carrion.
Constructs large, bulky platform nests made of reeds and water plants, often floating or built over water.

Habitat

Freshwater wetlands, swamps, lakes, and vegetated urban ponds.

Range

Australia, New Guinea, and parts of Indonesia.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Common GallinuleGallinula galeata Eurasian MoorhenGallinula chloropus Gough MoorhenGallinula comeri Makira MoorhenGallinula silvestris Samoan MoorhenGallinula pacifica Tristan MoorhenGallinula nesiotis

Heard a Dusky Moorhen?

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