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

Mascarene Coot

Fulica newtonii

The Mascarene Coot was a large, extinct species of rail that inhabited the freshwater wetlands of Mauritius and Réunion.

What it sounds like

Historically described as having a loud, raucous vocalization typical of the genus Fulica.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

No reference call found yet · Xeno-canto

Field notes

It was significantly larger than the extant Eurasian Coot, reaching lengths of approximately 45 centimeters.
Though capable of flight, its reduced wing-to-body ratio suggests it was a reluctant flier that preferred diving to escape threats.
Subfossil remains confirm the presence of a large, prominent frontal shield on the forehead, similar to the Knobbed Coot.
Early 17th-century accounts describe the bird as being highly susceptible to hunting, as they were often caught by hand or with sticks.
The species vanished by approximately 1700 due to overexploitation by sailors and the introduction of invasive predators like cats and pigs.

Habitat

Freshwater lakes, marshes, and slow-moving river systems.

Range

Mauritius and Réunion (Mascarene Islands, Indian Ocean).

Similar & commonly confused birds

American CootFulica americana Eurasian CootFulica atra Giant CootFulica gigantea Hawaiian CootFulica alai Horned CootFulica cornuta Red-fronted CootFulica rufifrons Red-gartered CootFulica armillata Red-knobbed CootFulica cristata

Heard a Mascarene Coot?

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