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

Indian Pond-Heron

Ardeola grayii

A small, stocky heron ubiquitous across Southern Asia, renowned for its incredible camouflage that vanishes to reveal brilliant white wings in flight.

What it sounds like

A harsh, croaking 'wa-koo' or a sharp 'kwak' when startled into flight.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Thet Zaw Naing · MyanmarCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

In breeding plumage, adults develop distinct maroon-brown feathers on their back and long, white filamentous crest feathers.
They employ a 'stand-and-wait' hunting strategy, remaining motionless for long periods to ambush aquatic prey.
Their streaked earthy-brown plumage provides near-perfect crypsis against mud and dried vegetation when their wings are folded.
They are highly adaptable to anthropogenic landscapes, frequently foraging in urban gutters and busy roadside ditches.
Nesting occurs in semi-colonial groups, often situated in large leafy trees overhanging water or in the middle of busy villages.

Habitat

Marshes, ponds, rice paddies, riverbanks, and urban drainage systems.

Range

The Indian subcontinent, extending from southern Iran through Pakistan, India, and Sri Lanka to Myanmar.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Chinese Pond-HeronArdeola bacchus Javan Pond-HeronArdeola speciosa Malagasy Pond-HeronArdeola idae Rufous-bellied HeronArdeola rufiventris Squacco HeronArdeola ralloides

Heard a Indian Pond-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