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

Hooded Plover

Thinornis cucullatus

A medium-sized, stocky shorebird endemic to southern Australia, easily identified by its distinctive black hood, white nape, and striking red eye-ring.

What it sounds like

A soft, low-pitched 'peep-peep' or a short, barking 'kow-it' or 'bark-bark' sound.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 1:11

Rec. Andrew Spencer · AustraliaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

They nest in shallow scrapes directly on sandy beaches, making their eggs extremely vulnerable to trampling and coastal traffic.
To protect their young, adults perform elaborate 'broken-wing' distraction displays to lure potential predators away from the nest site.
Chicks are highly precocial and must forage for themselves on the shoreline immediately after hatching while under parental supervision.
The species is divided into two distinct subspecies: the eastern 'T. c. cucullatus' and the western 'T. c. tregellasi'.
They are currently listed as Vulnerable, with beach-nesting success rates often severely limited by human recreational activities and domestic dogs.

Habitat

High-energy ocean beaches, coastal dunes, and occasionally inland salt lakes in Western Australia.

Range

Southern coastline of Australia, ranging from New South Wales to Western Australia, including Tasmania.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Black-fronted DotterelThinornis melanops Forbes's PloverThinornis forbesi Little Ringed PloverThinornis dubius Long-billed PloverThinornis placidus Shore PloverThinornis novaeseelandiae Three-banded PloverThinornis tricollaris Three-banded PloverThinornis tricollaris

Heard a Hooded Plover?

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