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

Little Egret

Egretta garzetta

A small, elegant white heron characterized by its slender black bill, long black legs, and distinctive bright yellow feet. It is an active hunter known for its graceful silhouette and delicate breeding plumes.

What it sounds like

Generally silent outside of colonies; produces a harsh, guttural 'ark' or 'gwa-gwa' when disturbed or interacting socially.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:10

Rec. Lionel FREDERIC · FranceCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

During the breeding season, adults grow two long, ribbon-like plumes from the nape and lace-like 'aigrettes' on the back.
Uses a specialized 'foot-stirring' technique, vibrating its yellow toes in the silt to flush out small fish and crustaceans.
The species was nearly hunted to extinction in Europe during the 19th century to supply plumes for the millinery trade.
It is a highly social nester, often forming large colonies called heronries alongside other species like Spoonbills and Grey Herons.
Since the 1950s, the species has undergone a massive natural range expansion, colonizing much of northern Europe and the British Isles.

Habitat

Shallow coastal wetlands, salt marshes, estuaries, and inland freshwater lakes or rivers.

Range

Widespread across Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australasia.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Black HeronEgretta ardesiaca Chinese EgretEgretta eulophotes Little Blue HeronEgretta caerulea Pacific Reef-HeronEgretta sacra Pied HeronEgretta picata Reddish EgretEgretta rufescens Slaty EgretEgretta vinaceigula Slaty EgretEgretta vinaceigula

Heard a Little Egret?

Open Birdsong, tap record, and identify the bird singing near you in seconds — then collect it in your field journal.

Identify a bird by its song