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

Ecuadorian Rail

Rallus aequatorialis

A secretive, medium-sized marsh bird of the high Andes, once classified as a subspecies of the Virginia Rail but now recognized as a distinct species.

What it sounds like

A rapid, rhythmic series of metallic 'kek' notes and grunting 'kiddick-kiddick' sequences.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Andrew Spencer · EcuadorCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

It was split from the Virginia Rail based on its significantly darker plumage and distinct vocalizations.
The species is comprised of two subspecies: the nominate 'aequatorialis' and the Colombian 'meyerdeschauenseei'.
It possesses a long, slightly decurved reddish bill specialized for probing mud for invertebrates.
Unlike many rails, it is primarily found at high altitudes, ranging from 2,000 to 4,000 meters above sea level.
Despite being locally common in specific marshes, it remains one of the least-studied members of the genus Rallus.

Habitat

High-altitude freshwater marshes, reedbeds, and paramo wetlands with dense vegetation.

Range

Andean regions of southwestern Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.

Similar & commonly confused birds

African RailRallus caerulescens Austral RailRallus antarcticus Aztec RailRallus tenuirostris Bogota RailRallus semiplumbeus Brown-cheeked RailRallus indicus Clapper RailRallus crepitans King RailRallus elegans Madagascar RailRallus madagascariensis

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