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

Eurasian Bittern

Botaurus stellaris

A large, secretive heron specialized for life in dense reedbeds, renowned for its cryptic plumage and resonant, booming call.

What it sounds like

A deep, foghorn-like 'boom' preceded by several soft, rhythmic grunts.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Joost van Bruggen · NetherlandsCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

When threatened, it adopts a 'bittern posture,' stretching its neck and bill vertically to blend in with surrounding reeds.
The male's low-frequency 'boom' is produced by inflating its esophagus to act as a resonator and can be heard up to five kilometers away.
Its eyes are positioned to allow binocular vision directed downwards, even when the head is pointed skyward in a defensive stance.
Once extinct as a breeding species in the UK in the late 19th century, it has become a flagship success story for wetland restoration.
The intricate streaking on its feathers provides near-perfect camouflage against the vertical lines of dried Phragmites stalks.

Habitat

Extensive, undisturbed freshwater reedbeds with shallow, standing water.

Range

Widespread across temperate Europe and Asia, with wintering populations in Africa and Southern Asia.

Similar & commonly confused birds

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

Heard a Eurasian Bittern?

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