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

Iraq Babbler

Argya altirostris

A medium-sized, pale sandy-brown passerine endemic to the Mesopotamian marshes, distinguished by its thick, slightly curved bill and social behavior.

What it sounds like

A series of high-pitched, squeaky whistling notes and hurried, conversational chattering.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Kasper Wieck · TurkeyCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is a cooperative breeder, living in small, noisy family groups that work together to defend territory and raise young.
The species is a habitat specialist, almost exclusively restricted to dense Phragmites reedbeds and riverine thickets.
Though similar in appearance to the Common Babbler, it lacks the distinct streaking on the breast and has a more uniform plumage.
Its population faced a critical decline during the 1990s due to the large-scale drainage of the Iraqi marshes, though it has since recolonized restored areas.
Foraging typically occurs low in the vegetation or on the ground, where it searches for insects and small invertebrates.

Habitat

Dense reedbeds, marshy scrubland, and riparian thickets near permanent water.

Range

Endemic to the lower Tigris-Euphrates basin in Iraq and southwestern Iran.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Afghan BabblerArgya huttoni Arabian BabblerArgya squamiceps Ashy-headed LaughingthrushArgya cinereifrons Common BabblerArgya caudata Fulvous ChattererArgya fulva Jungle BabblerArgya striata Large Gray BabblerArgya malcolmi Orange-billed BabblerArgya rufescens

Heard a Iraq Babbler?

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