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

Lesser Adjutant

Leptoptilos javanicus

A large, dark-backed stork with a bare head and neck, the Lesser Adjutant is a solitary scavenger and predator of Asian wetlands. It is distinguished from its larger relative by its smaller size and the absence of a pendulous throat pouch.

What it sounds like

Generally silent, but may produce low-frequency grunts, croaks, or rhythmic bill-clattering during the breeding season.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Antero Lindholm · NepalCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

The name 'Adjutant' refers to its stiff, military-like gait when walking on the ground.
Unlike many other stork species, it is typically solitary rather than colonial when foraging in wetlands.
It possesses a massive wedge-shaped bill used to capture fish, amphibians, and large invertebrates.
The species lacks a functional syrinx, rendering it almost entirely silent except for sounds produced at the nest.
It is currently classified as Vulnerable due to habitat loss, specifically the drainage of wetlands and felling of nesting trees.

Habitat

Freshwater marshes, swamps, mangroves, flooded grasslands, and occasionally coastal mudflats.

Range

South and Southeast Asia, ranging from India and Nepal through Indochina to Indonesia.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Greater AdjutantLeptoptilos dubius Marabou StorkLeptoptilos crumenifer

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