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

Green Heron

Butorides virescens

A small, secretive heron of wooded wetlands characterized by its dark plumage, iridescent green back, and compact, hunched profile.

What it sounds like

A sharp, explosive 'kyow' or 'skyow' typically given when flushed or in flight.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:10

Rec. Scott Olmstead · PanamaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is one of the few bird species known to use tools, often using insects, crusts of bread, or feathers as bait to lure fish.
When startled or aggressive, it frequently raises a prominent shaggy crest and jerks its tail.
Despite its name, its plumage can appear deep blue or charcoal-gray depending on the angle of the light.
It possesses specialized neck vertebrae that allow it to strike at prey with explosive speed from a crouched position.
Unlike many colonial herons, Green Herons are often solitary nesters or live in small, loose groups.

Habitat

Swamps, marshes, wooded ponds, and stream margins with dense overhanging vegetation.

Range

Breeds across North and Central America; winters in the southern US, Mexico, and through to northern South America.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Lava HeronButorides sundevalli Little HeronButorides atricapilla Little HeronButorides atricapilla Striated HeronButorides striata

Heard a Green 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