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

Mauritius Shelduck

Alopochen mauritiana

An extinct waterfowl species endemic to Mauritius, closely related to the Egyptian Goose and known primarily from subfossil remains and early colonial accounts.

What it sounds like

Historically undocumented, but presumed to be a series of loud, raucous honks and hisses typical of the genus Alopochen.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

No reference call found yet · Xeno-canto

Field notes

It was significantly larger than its extant relative, the Egyptian Goose, though it shared similar wing coloration.
The species was driven to extinction within a few decades of human settlement due to overhunting and habitat pressure.
Early accounts by explorers like Oliver Leguat describe the bird as being easy to hunt and highly palatable.
Its extinction was likely accelerated by introduced predators, such as pigs and macaques, which preyed on its eggs.
The last definitive record of the species dates back to 1698, after which it disappeared from the island's wetlands.

Habitat

Freshwater marshes, lakes, and coastal ponds.

Range

The island of Mauritius (Indian Ocean).

Similar & commonly confused birds

Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiaca Reunion ShelduckAlopochen kervazoi

Heard a Mauritius Shelduck?

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