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

Great-billed Heron

Ardea sumatrana

The Great-billed Heron is a massive, dusky-grey wading bird characterized by its imposing stature and exceptionally thick, powerful bill. It is one of the world's largest heron species, specialized for life in coastal and marine environments.

What it sounds like

A deep, resonant, and guttural croak or roar, often described as a low, rasping 'arrrk'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Ding Li Yong · SingaporeCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

Standing up to 115 cm tall, it is significantly larger and more robust than the more common Grey or Purple Herons.
It is a highly solitary and wary species, typically maintaining a large flight distance from humans and other disturbances.
Unlike many other large herons, it is almost exclusively associated with saltwater habitats such as mangroves and coral reefs.
Its hunting strategy involves standing motionless for long periods before using its dagger-like bill to impale large fish or crustaceans.
It is a non-colonial nester, typically building a large platform of sticks high in mangrove trees or on secluded rocky islands.

Habitat

Coastal mangroves, mudflats, estuaries, river mouths, and offshore coral reef flats.

Range

Southeast Asia, the Malay Archipelago, New Guinea, and northern Australia.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Black-headed HeronArdea melanocephala Cocoi HeronArdea cocoi Eastern Cattle-EgretArdea coromanda Goliath HeronArdea goliath Gray HeronArdea cinerea Great Blue HeronArdea herodias Great EgretArdea alba Humblot's HeronArdea humbloti

Heard a Great-billed Heron?

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