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

Falcated Duck

Mareca falcata

A medium-sized East Asian dabbling duck known for the male's ornate, sickle-shaped plumage and iridescent bronze-green head.

What it sounds like

Males produce a low, clear, three-note whistle; females give a series of low, raspy quacks.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 2:31

Rec. Bo Shunqi 薄顺奇 · ChinaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

The species is named for the long, curved tertial feathers, or 'falcates,' that drape over the male's tail like sickles.
Males exhibit a distinctive white spot on the forehead and a dark green mane that shifts in color depending on the light angle.
Taxonomically, it is closely related to wigeons, sharing their characteristic high-pitched whistling vocalizations.
It is currently classified as Near Threatened by the IUCN due to hunting and the drainage of wetlands in its wintering range.
While native to East Asia, it is a noted rare vagrant to the Pacific coast of North America and various parts of Europe.

Habitat

Freshwater lakes, ponds, and marshes with abundant emergent vegetation, as well as flooded rice fields.

Range

Breeds in eastern Siberia, Mongolia, and northern China; winters primarily in Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asia.

Similar & commonly confused birds

American WigeonMareca americana Amsterdam DuckMareca marecula Chiloe WigeonMareca sibilatrix Eurasian WigeonMareca penelope GadwallMareca strepera

Heard a Falcated Duck?

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