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 Scaup

Aythya affinis

A compact North American diving duck characterized by a distinctively peaked crown and a preference for freshwater environments. It is closely related to the Greater Scaup but distinguished by its smaller size and the subtle purple iridescence on the male's head.

What it sounds like

Generally silent; females produce a low, harsh 'kurr-kurr' growl, while males emit soft, melodic whistles and wheezes during courtship.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Richard E. Webster · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

The species is best identified by a high, pointed 'peak' at the back of the head, unlike the rounded profile of the Greater Scaup.
It is a highly gregarious species, often forming massive wintering flocks known as 'rafts' that can contain thousands of individuals.
They are late-season migrants, typically departing their northern breeding grounds just before the water surfaces freeze over.
Their diet primarily consists of aquatic invertebrates, such as mollusks and insect larvae, which they obtain by diving in relatively shallow water.
Ornithologists have noted a significant and concerning population decline since the 1980s, potentially linked to habitat changes and contaminants in migration corridors.

Habitat

Breeds in prairie potholes and boreal marshes; winters on large inland lakes, brackish estuaries, and coastal bays.

Range

Breeds from Alaska through western Canada to the northern United States; winters throughout the southern U.S., Mexico, and Central America.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Baer's PochardAythya baeri CanvasbackAythya valisineria Common PochardAythya ferina Ferruginous DuckAythya nyroca Greater ScaupAythya marila HardheadAythya australis Madagascar PochardAythya innotata New Zealand ScaupAythya novaeseelandiae

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