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

Madagascar Grebe

Tachybaptus pelzelnii

A small, elusive waterbird endemic to Madagascar, characterized by its chestnut-colored neck and preference for lily-covered freshwater lakes.

What it sounds like

A high-pitched, descending whinnying trill similar to the Little Grebe but typically shorter and higher in frequency.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Frank Lambert · MadagascarCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is currently classified as Vulnerable, primarily due to competition and hybridization with the introduced Little Grebe.
Like other grebes, it consumes its own feathers to create a plug in its stomach that protects the digestive tract from sharp fish bones.
The species is highly sedentary and rarely flies, preferring to dive or hide in vegetation when threatened.
Nests are floating platforms of aquatic vegetation often anchored to water lilies (Nymphaea).
Chicks are precocial and are frequently observed riding on their parents' backs for warmth and protection.

Habitat

Shallow freshwater lakes and ponds with abundant floating vegetation and emergent reeds.

Range

Endemic to Madagascar, occurring primarily on the western and central plateaus.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Alaotra GrebeTachybaptus rufolavatus Australasian GrebeTachybaptus novaehollandiae Least GrebeTachybaptus dominicus Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis

Heard a Madagascar Grebe?

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