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

Giant Coot

Fulica gigantea

The Giant Coot is the world's largest rail, a massive aquatic bird endemic to the high-altitude lakes of the Andes known for its inability to fly as a heavy adult.

What it sounds like

A series of low, guttural croaks, raspy grunts, and deep clucking sounds.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 1:11

Rec. Cristian Pinto Fernandez · ChileCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is the heaviest species in the Rallidae family, with large adults weighing up to 2.7 kilograms (6 pounds).
Adults are functionally flightless due to their extreme weight, though they use their wings for balance and display.
They construct enormous platform nests of aquatic vegetation that can reach 3 meters in diameter and support a human's weight.
Unlike most coots, they possess massive, lobed feet and a prominent reddish-orange frontal shield that extends onto the forehead.
Pairs are highly territorial and non-migratory, remaining on high-altitude Altiplano lakes throughout the entire year.

Habitat

High-altitude freshwater and brackish lakes of the Altiplano, usually between 3,500 and 6,500 meters in elevation.

Range

The Andean highlands of southern Peru, western Bolivia, northern Chile, and northwestern Argentina.

Similar & commonly confused birds

American CootFulica americana Eurasian CootFulica atra Hawaiian CootFulica alai Horned CootFulica cornuta Mascarene CootFulica newtonii Red-fronted CootFulica rufifrons Red-gartered CootFulica armillata Red-knobbed CootFulica cristata

Heard a Giant Coot?

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