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 Curlew

Numenius arquata

The Eurasian Curlew is the largest wading bird in the Western Palearctic, iconic for its exceptionally long, downward-curving bill and evocative, haunting vocalizations. It serves as a flagship species for conservation in temperate grasslands and coastal wetlands.

What it sounds like

A loud, rising 'cur-lee' whistle and a liquid, melodic bubbling trill that accelerates in tempo during the breeding season.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Eric Cuvelier · BelgiumCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is the largest wader in Europe, with a wingspan reaching up to 100 centimeters.
Females generally possess longer bills than males, an example of sexual dimorphism that allows them to probe different depths for prey.
The species is currently classified as Near Threatened globally, with significant population declines driven by habitat loss and high nest predation.
During the breeding season, males perform a distinctive 'bubbling' display flight to establish territory and attract mates.
Their bills contain specialized sensory pits at the tip, enabling them to detect the vibrations of buried invertebrates in the mud.

Habitat

Breeds on damp moorlands, upland bogs, and rough pastures; winters on coastal mudflats, saltmarshes, and sandy beaches.

Range

Breeds across temperate Europe and Asia; winters in coastal Africa, southern Asia, and throughout the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts of Europe.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Bristle-thighed CurlewNumenius tahitiensis Eskimo CurlewNumenius borealis Eurasian WhimbrelNumenius phaeopus Far Eastern CurlewNumenius madagascariensis Hudsonian WhimbrelNumenius hudsonicus Little CurlewNumenius minutus Long-billed CurlewNumenius americanus Slender-billed CurlewNumenius tenuirostris

Heard a Eurasian Curlew?

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Identify a bird by its song