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

Killdeer

Charadrius vociferus

A large, vocal plover frequently found in dry, open habitats far from water, recognizable by its two prominent black breast bands.

What it sounds like

A high-pitched, piercing, and repetitive 'kill-dee' or 'kill-deer' sound.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:20

Rec. Rory Nefdt · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Performs a convincing 'broken-wing act' to distract predators from its ground-level nest.
Nests are simple scrapes in soil or gravel, often found in residential areas, golf courses, and parking lots.
Chicks are highly precocial, emerging from eggs with eyes open and the ability to forage almost immediately.
While classified as a shorebird, it is one of the least water-dependent members of the Charadriidae family.
The species name 'vociferus' is Latin for 'noisy,' referring to its loud and persistent vocalizations.

Habitat

Open fields, pastures, mudflats, gravel rooftops, and short-grass prairies.

Range

Widespread across North America, extending through Central America into northern South America.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Common Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticula Piping PloverCharadrius melodus Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatus

Heard a Killdeer?

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