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 Pond-Heron

Ardeola speciosa

A small, stocky heron of Southeast Asia known for its dramatic transformation from cryptic brown to vibrant cinnamon and gold plumage during the breeding season.

What it sounds like

Usually silent, but produces harsh, guttural croaks or a sharp 'kyah' when startled or during nesting.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Sam Hambly · ThailandCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Breeding adults develop a striking buff-yellow head and long crest feathers paired with a deep cinnamon-orange breast.
The wings are entirely white, providing a sudden, brilliant flash of color when the bird takes flight from its camouflaged position.
In its streaky brown non-breeding plumage, it is nearly indistinguishable in the field from the Chinese Pond-Heron.
It employs a 'stand and wait' hunting strategy, remaining motionless for long periods to ambush fish, frogs, and aquatic insects.
The species has successfully adapted to human-altered landscapes, frequently foraging in flooded rice paddies and urban drainage ditches.

Habitat

Freshwater and saltwater wetlands, including marshes, rice fields, mangroves, and shallow lake margins.

Range

Southeast Asia, including Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, and the Philippines.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Chinese Pond-HeronArdeola bacchus Indian Pond-HeronArdeola grayii Malagasy Pond-HeronArdeola idae Rufous-bellied HeronArdeola rufiventris Squacco HeronArdeola ralloides

Heard a Javan 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