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

Dwarf Bittern

Botaurus sturmii

The Dwarf Bittern is a small, elusive heron characterized by its dark slate-grey plumage and heavily streaked throat. It is known for its secretive behavior in seasonally flooded wetlands across sub-Saharan Africa.

What it sounds like

A deep, repetitive, and muffled 'hoo-hoo-hoo', usually emitted during the breeding season or at night.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

No reference call found yet · Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is the smallest bittern in its range, typically measuring only 25 to 30 centimeters in length.
The species is highly migratory within Africa, timing its movements to coincide with seasonal rainfall and the filling of ephemeral pans.
When threatened, it adopts a 'bittern posture' by stretching its neck and bill skyward to blend in with surrounding vegetation.
Unlike many colonial herons, the Dwarf Bittern is primarily solitary and largely active during crepuscular or nocturnal hours.
Its nest is a surprisingly flimsy, translucent platform of twigs, often placed just above the water level in overhanging trees or bushes.

Habitat

Seasonally flooded grasslands, marshes, and dense thickets near rivers or woodland pools.

Range

Sub-Saharan Africa, ranging from Senegal to Ethiopia and south to South Africa.

Similar & commonly confused birds

American BitternBotaurus lentiginosus Australasian BitternBotaurus poiciloptilus Black BitternBotaurus flavicollis Black-backed BitternBotaurus dubius Cinnamon BitternBotaurus cinnamomeus Eurasian BitternBotaurus stellaris Great BitternBotaurus stellaris Least BitternBotaurus exilis

Heard a Dwarf Bittern?

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