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

Latham's Snipe

Gallinago hardwickii

Latham's Snipe is a medium-sized migratory shorebird known for its cryptic brown plumage and a remarkably long, straight bill. It is a non-breeding visitor to Australia, performing incredible trans-equatorial flights from its northern hemisphere breeding grounds.

What it sounds like

A harsh, rasping 'crek' or 'jek' given upon flushing, and a rhythmic 'kek-kek-kek' during aerial displays.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Ding Li Yong · JapanCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

It performs a non-stop migratory flight of over 7,000 kilometers between Japan and Australia in as little as three days.
The tip of its bill is flexible and equipped with sensitive nerve endings to detect the vibrations of prey deep in the mud.
When startled, it typically flushes in a distinctive 'zigzag' flight pattern to evade potential predators.
It is uniquely adapted to utilize both high-altitude alpine meadows for breeding and lowland temperate wetlands for wintering.
Despite its shorebird classification, it rarely occurs on open coastal mudflats, preferring the safety of dense terrestrial cover.

Habitat

Freshwater wetlands with thick vegetation, including swamps, marshes, flooded grasslands, and alpine meadows.

Range

Breeds in Japan and South-east Russia; spends the non-breeding season in Eastern Australia and Tasmania.

Similar & commonly confused birds

African SnipeGallinago nigripennis Common SnipeGallinago gallinago Fuegian SnipeGallinago stricklandii Giant SnipeGallinago undulata Great SnipeGallinago media Imperial SnipeGallinago imperialis Jameson's SnipeGallinago jamesoni Jameson's SnipeGallinago jamesoni

Heard a Latham's Snipe?

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