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

Lake Duck

Oxyura vittata

A small South American stiff-tailed duck known for its vibrant breeding plumage and remarkable reproductive physiology.

What it sounds like

Usually silent, but males produce low-frequency rattles and mechanical popping sounds during water-splashing displays.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Bernabe Lopez-Lanus · ArgentinaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Possesses the longest avian penis relative to body size, which can exceed the duck's total body length.
Breeding males exhibit a striking cobalt-blue bill contrasted against a jet-black head and chestnut-colored body.
The tail consists of stiff, narrow feathers that are often held vertically while the bird is at rest or displaying.
Primarily a diving herbivore, it feeds on seeds, aquatic plants, and occasionally small invertebrates found in lake sediment.
Courtship involves elaborate 'bubbling' displays where males inflate their necks and strike their bills against their chests.

Habitat

Shallow freshwater lakes, marshes, and stagnant pools with abundant emergent vegetation.

Range

Southern South America, ranging from central Chile and Argentina to southern Brazil and Uruguay.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Andean DuckOxyura ferruginea Blue-billed DuckOxyura australis Maccoa DuckOxyura maccoa Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensis White-headed DuckOxyura leucocephala

Heard a Lake Duck?

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Identify a bird by its song