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

Magpie Goose

Anseranas semipalmata

The Magpie Goose is a taxonomically unique, primitive waterbird easily identified by its striking black-and-white plumage and prominent cranial knob. It represents the sole living member of the family Anseranatidae, predating the divergence of modern ducks and geese.

What it sounds like

A loud, high-pitched, and resonant trumpeting or clanging honk that can be heard from a distance.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. James Lambert · AustraliaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is the only extant representative of its family, making it an evolutionarily distinct lineage within the Anseriformes.
Unlike true geese, it has only partially webbed feet, which allow it to easily perch and roost in trees.
The species does not undergo a simultaneous wing-molt, meaning it remains capable of flight year-round unlike most other waterfowl.
They often practice polygamous breeding, with trios of one male and two females sharing a single nest to raise a joint clutch.
The bony knob on the forehead of adults continues to grow throughout their life and is used as a signal of social status and age.

Habitat

Seasonally flooded tropical wetlands, floodplains, and swamps with dense emergent vegetation.

Range

Northern Australia and southern New Guinea.

Heard a Magpie Goose?

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