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

Horned Grebe

Podiceps auritus

A small, diving waterbird distinguished by its striking golden ear tufts and scarlet eyes during the breeding season.

What it sounds like

A diverse repertoire of raspy chattering, trills, and a piercing, descending 'shriek' during displays.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:54

Rec. Dag Österlund · SwedenCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

In breeding plumage, it displays prominent yellowish feather tufts behind the eyes that can be raised or lowered.
To protect its digestive tract from sharp fish bones, it consumes its own feathers to create a protective stomach lining.
The species performs elaborate 'rushing' courtship displays where pairs run upright across the water surface in unison.
Its feet are lobed rather than webbed, positioned far back on the body for powerful propulsion while diving.
They build floating nests of decaying vegetation that are often anchored to emergent plants in shallow water.

Habitat

Freshwater lakes and marshes for breeding; saltwater coasts and large ice-free lakes during winter.

Range

Holarctic; found throughout northern North America, Europe, and Asia.

Similar & commonly confused birds

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

Heard a Horned 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