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 Rhea

Rhea pennata

A large, flightless ratite adapted to the arid, high-altitude environments of the southern Andes and Patagonian steppes.

What it sounds like

Deep, resonant booming sounds used by males during courtship, alongside sharp hisses when threatened.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Elisa M. Huanca Plata - Universidad Técnica de Oruro · BoliviaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Also known as Darwin's Rhea, it was famously identified by Charles Darwin after he accidentally ate a specimen during his voyage.
The species is polygynandrous, with the male taking sole responsibility for incubating eggs and raising the chicks from multiple females.
To evade predators like the puma, they can reach running speeds of up to 60 km/h using their powerful, three-toed feet.
Unlike the Greater Rhea, this species has feathers that extend down the tarsus (the lower part of the leg).
They are opportunistic feeders, consuming a variety of saltbush, cacti, grasses, and occasionally small insects or lizards.

Habitat

Arid scrublands, high-altitude grasslands (Puna), and Patagonian steppes.

Range

Southern South America, including parts of Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, and Peru.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Greater RheaRhea americana

Heard a Lesser Rhea?

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