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

Maccoa Duck

Oxyura maccoa

A small, stiff-tailed diving duck notable for the male's striking cobalt-blue bill and chestnut plumage during the breeding season.

What it sounds like

Usually silent, though males produce a low, vibrating 'prrr' or mechanical humming during courtship displays.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Lynette Rudman · South AfricaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Belongs to the stifftail group, characterized by rigid tail feathers that are frequently held upright when the bird is alert.
Exhibits extreme sexual dimorphism, with breeding males displaying a vibrant blue bill that fades to grey in the non-breeding season.
Possesses legs positioned very far back on the body, making it a powerful diver but leaving it virtually unable to walk on land.
Primarily feeds by diving to filter benthic invertebrates, especially chironomid larvae, from the sediment of waterbodies.
Currently classified as Endangered due to rapid population declines caused by habitat pollution, drainage of wetlands, and drowning in fishing nets.

Habitat

Freshwater lakes and nutrient-rich ponds with dense emergent vegetation such as reeds and bulrushes.

Range

Eastern and Southern Africa, with disjunct populations ranging from Ethiopia to South Africa.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Andean DuckOxyura ferruginea Blue-billed DuckOxyura australis Lake DuckOxyura vittata Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensis White-headed DuckOxyura leucocephala

Heard a Maccoa Duck?

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Identify a bird by its song