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 Grebe

Podiceps major

The Great Grebe is the largest member of the grebe family, characterized by its remarkably long neck, rufous-chestnut plumage during breeding, and elegant, slender profile.

What it sounds like

A loud, mournful, and drawn-out fluting whistle or wailing 'wee-oow', often repeated in a haunting sequence.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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

Field notes

It is the world's largest grebe species, reaching a total body length of up to 80 centimeters (31 inches).
Unlike many smaller grebe species, it frequently inhabits sheltered coastal marine waters and estuaries in addition to freshwater lakes.
They are powerful divers capable of staying submerged for long periods while hunting fish, their primary food source.
Courtship involves complex, synchronized displays including a 'weed dance' where pairs rise chest-to-chest out of the water.
Parents carry their young on their backs for protection and warmth, a common grebe behavior that is particularly striking given this species' large size.

Habitat

Large lakes, slow-moving rivers, marshes, and protected coastal bays or estuaries.

Range

Southern South America, ranging from central Peru and southern Brazil down to Tierra del Fuego.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Colombian GrebePodiceps andinus Eared GrebePodiceps nigricollis Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatus Hooded GrebePodiceps gallardoi Horned GrebePodiceps auritus Junin GrebePodiceps taczanowskii Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegena Silvery GrebePodiceps occipitalis

Heard a Great Grebe?

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