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 Wryneck

Jynx torquilla

A cryptic, ground-feeding woodpecker known for its remarkable ability to twist its neck in a snake-like fashion when threatened.

What it sounds like

A series of 8-15 high-pitched, nasal, and somewhat plaintive 'quee-quee-quee-quee' notes.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 1:32

Rec. Peter Boesman · ChinaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is one of the few woodpecker species that is a long-distance migrant, wintering in tropical Africa and South Asia.
When disturbed, it performs a defensive display by twisting its head nearly 180 degrees while emitting a snake-like hiss.
Unlike most other woodpeckers, it lacks stiff tail feathers for propping and cannot excavate its own nesting cavities.
Its diet consists almost exclusively of ants and their larvae, which it extracts from the ground using a long, sticky tongue.
Its intricately patterned grey and brown plumage provides near-perfect camouflage against tree bark and leaf litter.

Habitat

Open deciduous woodlands, orchards, parks, and gardens with areas of bare soil for foraging.

Range

Breeds across temperate Eurasia; winters in sub-Saharan Africa and southern Asia.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Red-throated WryneckJynx ruficollis

Heard a Eurasian Wryneck?

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