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

Long-tailed Duck

Clangula hyemalis

A vocal, medium-sized sea duck characterized by the male's elongated tail feathers and complex seasonal plumage changes.

What it sounds like

A loud, musical, multi-syllabic yodeling often transcribed as 'ow-ow-on-ly' or 'ah-low-et'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Lars Edenius · SwedenCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is one of the deepest-diving ducks, capable of foraging at depths of up to 200 feet (60 meters).
Unlike most ducks, it primarily uses its wings rather than its feet to propel itself underwater.
The species undergoes a complex molting cycle, resulting in three distinct plumages throughout the year.
It is a highly gregarious bird that spends about 80% of its time underwater while foraging.
Populations are known to be exceptionally vocal, with their melodic calls carrying for miles across open water.

Habitat

Breeds on Arctic tundra pools and lakes; winters in large ice-free lakes and coastal marine waters.

Range

Circumpolar Arctic; winters along northern Atlantic and Pacific coasts and the Great Lakes.

Heard a Long-tailed Duck?

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