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

Marbled Godwit

Limosa fedoa

The Marbled Godwit is one of North America's largest shorebirds, distinguished by its long, slightly upturned bill and warm, cinnamon-mottled plumage. It is a striking member of the sandpiper family often seen probing deep into coastal mudflats or nesting in northern prairies.

What it sounds like

A loud, harsh, and nasal 'god-wit' or 'rad-ka,' frequently delivered in a rhythmic, barking series.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:27

Rec. Nancy Salem · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

The bill features a distinct bi-colored appearance, with a dull pink base and a black tip.
It utilizes rhynchokinesis, the ability to flex the tip of its upper mandible independently to grasp prey while probing deep underground.
Unlike most other godwit species that nest in the high Arctic, this species primarily breeds in the mid-continental northern Great Plains.
During the 19th century, it was a popular game bird and its populations were significantly reduced by market hunting.
A small, disjunct population breeds nearly 1,000 miles away from the main range on the southern shores of James Bay, Canada.

Habitat

Native shortgrass and midgrass prairies near wetlands for breeding; coastal mudflats, estuaries, and sandy beaches for wintering.

Range

Breeds in the northern Great Plains of the U.S. and Canada; winters along the Pacific, Atlantic, and Gulf coasts from California and Virginia south to Central America.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponica Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosa Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemastica

Heard a Marbled Godwit?

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