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

Harlequin Duck

Histrionicus histrionicus

A small, vividly patterned sea duck specialized for life in turbulent waters, ranging from torrential mountain streams to crashing coastal surf. The drake's striking slate-blue plumage with white patches and chestnut flanks makes it one of the most distinctive waterfowl in the world.

What it sounds like

High-pitched, thin, squeaky whistles and chirps that resemble the sound of a mouse.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Bruce Lagerquist · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Known as the 'sea mouse' because its vocalizations consist of high-pitched, mouse-like squeaks rather than typical quacks.
It is uniquely adapted to high-energy water environments, possessing higher bone density than most other ducks to help it stay submerged.
Necropsies often show that many adult Harlequin Ducks have numerous healed bone fractures from being tossed against rocks by heavy surf and rapids.
Unlike most migratory waterfowl, they move from coastal wintering grounds to inland mountain streams to breed, often nesting in rock crevices or tree cavities near whitewater.
They feed by diving and walking along the bottom of fast-moving rivers, using their strong feet to cling to rocks while hunting for aquatic larvae.

Habitat

Fast-flowing, rocky mountain streams for breeding; rugged, wave-washed rocky coasts and kelp beds for wintering.

Range

Holarctic distribution across the Northern Pacific and North Atlantic, including Alaska, Canada, the Pacific Northwest, Greenland, and Iceland.

Heard a Harlequin Duck?

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