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 Snipe

Gallinago undulata

The Giant Snipe is the largest member of the Scolopacidae family's snipe genus, distinguished by its massive size and heavily barred, cryptic plumage.

What it sounds like

A loud, repetitive, and rasping 'kek-kek-kek' or 'wick-wick' usually heard during nocturnal aerial displays.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. JAYRSON ARAUJO DE OLIVEIRA · BrazilCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is the largest species of snipe in the world, reaching lengths of up to 43 centimeters.
Unlike most snipes, it possesses broad, rounded wings rather than pointed ones, aiding its movement through tall vegetation.
The species is almost exclusively nocturnal or crepuscular, remaining motionless and well-camouflaged during the day.
There are two recognized subspecies: G. u. undulata in the northern range and the larger G. u. gigantea in the southern range.
It performs a specialized 'drumming' or 'bleating' display during flight using modified outer tail feathers.

Habitat

Tall, dense wet grasslands, swampy savannas, and seasonally flooded marshes.

Range

Discontinuous populations across South America, including the Guiana Highlands, eastern Brazil, Paraguay, and northern Argentina.

Similar & commonly confused birds

African SnipeGallinago nigripennis Common SnipeGallinago gallinago Fuegian SnipeGallinago stricklandii Great SnipeGallinago media Imperial SnipeGallinago imperialis Jameson's SnipeGallinago jamesoni Jameson's SnipeGallinago jamesoni Latham's SnipeGallinago hardwickii

Heard a Giant Snipe?

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