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 Pochard

Aythya innotata

The Madagascar Pochard is a critically endangered diving duck and the world's rarest waterfowl, rediscovered in 2006 after being feared extinct for 15 years.

What it sounds like

Generally silent, but males produce a soft, wheezy 'whirr' whistle during courtship, while females emit a harsh 'gaaaa' croak.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

No reference call found yet · Xeno-canto

Field notes

It was considered extinct from 1991 until a tiny population was discovered at Lake Matsaborimena.
Adult males are characterized by striking white irises that contrast with their dark mahogany-brown plumage.
Unlike many other Aythya species, it prefers shallow water where it can forage for aquatic invertebrates and seeds on the lakebed.
A captive breeding and reintroduction program has successfully released individuals into the protected Lake Sofia.
The species is highly sedentary, with limited dispersal across the fragmented wetland habitats of the Madagascar plateau.

Habitat

High-altitude freshwater lakes and marshes with abundant emergent vegetation and clear water.

Range

Endemic to the central highlands of Madagascar.

Similar & commonly confused birds

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

Heard a Madagascar Pochard?

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