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 Whimbrel

Numenius phaeopus

The Eurasian Whimbrel is a large, migratory wading bird distinguished by its long, decurved bill and a striking striped pattern on its crown. It is a world-class traveler, moving between subarctic breeding grounds and tropical coastal wintering sites.

What it sounds like

A rapid, high-pitched series of seven to nine whistling notes, creating a rhythmic 'tittering' sound.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Mark James Pearson · United KingdomCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It possesses specialized supraorbital glands that allow it to excrete excess salt after consuming marine prey.
Unlike the larger Eurasian Curlew, the Whimbrel features a bold dark eye-stripe and a pale central crown stripe.
Individuals have been tracked flying non-stop for over 4,000 miles during their transoceanic migrations.
Their decurved bills are evolutionarily adapted to reach deep into the burrows of fiddler crabs and other crustaceans.
During the breeding season, they perform elaborate aerial displays accompanied by a distinctive 'tittering' song.

Habitat

Subarctic tundra and moorlands for breeding; coastal mudflats, mangroves, and rocky shores during winter.

Range

Breeds across Northern Europe and Asia; winters along the coasts of Africa, South Asia, and Australasia.

Similar & commonly confused birds

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

Heard a Eurasian Whimbrel?

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