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

Javan Lapwing

Vanellus macropterus

The Javan Lapwing is a large, long-legged wader endemic to Java, currently classified as Critically Endangered and potentially extinct.

What it sounds like

Described as a loud, shrill, and piercing 'kwee-it' or 'steet-steet' sound.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

No reference call found yet · Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is distinguished by prominent bright yellow facial wattles and exceptionally long greenish-yellow legs.
The species has not been officially recorded since 1940, though unconfirmed local reports persist.
It possesses sharp carpal spurs on its wings, which are used for defense and territorial disputes.
Unlike many other lapwings, it was primarily a marsh-dwelling specialist rather than a dry-field bird.
Extensive surveys in the early 2000s failed to find any individuals, making it one of the world's rarest birds if it survives.

Habitat

Freshwater marshes, inundated grasslands, and river deltas.

Range

Java, Indonesia (historically found in the north and south coasts).

Similar & commonly confused birds

Andean LapwingVanellus resplendens Banded LapwingVanellus tricolor Black-headed LapwingVanellus tectus Black-winged LapwingVanellus melanopterus Blacksmith LapwingVanellus armatus Brown-chested LapwingVanellus superciliosus Crowned LapwingVanellus coronatus Gray-headed LapwingVanellus cinereus

Heard a Javan Lapwing?

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