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

Galapagos Rail

Laterallus spilonota

A small, secretive, and nearly flightless crake endemic to the Galapagos Islands, characterized by its dark sooty plumage and striking red eyes.

What it sounds like

A repetitive, rhythmic series of metallic clicks and 'chi-chi-chi-queroo' notes.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:17

Rec. Leander Khil · EcuadorCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is one of the smallest rails in the world, measuring only approximately 15 centimeters in length.
Despite having functional wings, it is a very weak flyer and prefers to escape threats by running through dense vegetation.
The species is listed as Vulnerable, primarily due to predation by introduced species like feral cats and black rats.
It is a diurnal forager that uses its bill to toss leaf litter in search of invertebrates, such as snails and isopods.
Their nests are well-concealed, ground-level structures built from grasses and ferns with a side entrance.

Habitat

Dense, humid highland grasslands, fern-sedge zones, and moist thickets.

Range

Endemic to the Galapagos Archipelago, found on islands such as Santa Cruz, Santiago, Pinta, and Fernandina.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Black RailLaterallus jamaicensis Dot-winged CrakeLaterallus spiloptera Gray-breasted CrakeLaterallus exilis Inaccessible Island RailLaterallus rogersi Ruddy CrakeLaterallus ruber Rufous-sided CrakeLaterallus melanophaius Rusty-flanked CrakeLaterallus levraudi Rusty-flanked CrakeLaterallus levraudi

Heard a Galapagos Rail?

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