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

Greater Yellowlegs

Tringa melanoleuca

A large, elegant shorebird easily identified by its lanky bright yellow legs and long, sturdy, slightly upturned bill.

What it sounds like

A loud, ringing, and piercing series of three or more 'tew-tew-tew' whistles, typically descending in pitch.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. AUDEVARD Aurélien · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is distinguished from the similar Lesser Yellowlegs by its larger size and a bill that is more than 1.5 times the length of its head.
Known for its 'dash-and-stab' feeding method, it often runs through shallow water to chase and capture small fish or aquatic insects.
It nests in remote boreal bogs and muskeg, often placing its nest on the ground tucked into moss or near fallen logs.
A highly wary species, it is often the first to sound a loud alarm call when disturbed, alerting all nearby waterfowl to potential threats.
Migration routes are extensive, with some individuals traveling from subarctic breeding grounds to the southern tip of South America.

Habitat

Freshwater and saltwater wetlands, mudflats, estuaries, and boreal bogs.

Range

Breeds across Alaska and Canada; winters along the coasts and inland waters of the Americas from the United States to Tierra del Fuego.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Common GreenshankTringa nebularia Common RedshankTringa totanus Gray-tailed TattlerTringa brevipes Green SandpiperTringa ochropus Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipes Marsh SandpiperTringa stagnatilis Nordmann's GreenshankTringa guttifer Solitary SandpiperTringa solitaria

Heard a Greater Yellowlegs?

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