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

Japanese Quail

Coturnix japonica

A small, ground-dwelling galliform bird native to East Asia, recognized for its cryptic brown plumage and remarkably rapid reproductive cycle.

What it sounds like

A sharp, rhythmic three-syllable whistle often transcribed as 'chuu-pipi-krron' or 'wet-my-lips'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Vadim Ivushkin · Russian FederationCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It was the first bird species to successfully breed and hatch offspring in microgravity aboard the Mir space station.
They reach sexual maturity in as little as six weeks, representing one of the fastest maturation rates among all avian species.
Unlike many other sedentary quail species, wild Japanese Quail are strongly migratory, traveling long distances between breeding and wintering grounds.
Males possess a unique foam gland located near the cloaca that produces a white froth used to enhance sperm motility during mating.
The species is sexually dimorphic, with males typically displaying uniform cinnamon-colored throat feathers while females have pale, spotted throats.

Habitat

Open grasslands, steppes, agricultural fields, and shrubby riverbanks.

Range

Breeds in East Asia, including Japan, Russia, China, and Korea; winters in Southern China and Southeast Asia.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Common QuailCoturnix coturnix Harlequin QuailCoturnix delegorguei New Zealand QuailCoturnix novaezelandiae Rain QuailCoturnix coromandelica Stubble QuailCoturnix pectoralis

Heard a Japanese Quail?

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