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

Ferruginous Duck

Aythya nyroca

A small, mahogany-colored diving duck characterized by its white undertail coverts and a distinctive white wing-bar visible in flight. It is a secretive species often found in well-vegetated wetlands across the Palearctic.

What it sounds like

Generally silent; males produce a soft, wheezy 'vuk-vuk' during courtship, while females have a harsh, rattling 'kurr' call.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Paweł Malczyk · PolandCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is the only European diving duck that displays white undertail coverts while swimming on the water's surface.
Adult males are known for their striking white or pale-yellow irises, which contrast sharply with their dark reddish-brown plumage.
The species is currently classified as Near Threatened due to significant population declines caused by habitat loss and wetland degradation.
Unlike many other diving ducks, it frequently feeds in very shallow water and may occasionally tip up like a dabbling duck.
During the breeding season, it is exceptionally shy and prefers water bodies with dense reed beds and floating vegetation for nesting.

Habitat

Shallow freshwater lakes, marshes, and ponds with extensive emergent vegetation and floating plants.

Range

Breeds in southern and eastern Europe and central Asia; winters in the Mediterranean basin, sub-Saharan Africa, and the Indian subcontinent.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Baer's PochardAythya baeri CanvasbackAythya valisineria Common PochardAythya ferina Greater ScaupAythya marila HardheadAythya australis Lesser ScaupAythya affinis Madagascar PochardAythya innotata New Zealand ScaupAythya novaeseelandiae

Heard a Ferruginous Duck?

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