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

Northern Lapwing

Vanellus vanellus

A distinctive medium-sized wader characterized by its long, wispy crest and iridescent green-black plumage. It is famous for its erratic, tumbling display flights during the breeding season.

What it sounds like

A shrill, nasal, and rising 'pee-wit' or 'wee-wit,' often accompanied by complex wheezing and humming notes during flight.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Miika Silfverberg · FinlandCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Commonly known as the 'Peewit' due to its characteristic high-pitched, onomatopoeic call.
Possesses a unique, slender crest on its crown that is prominent in both sexes.
Males perform dramatic aerial acrobatics, including steep dives and rapid wing-rolling, to defend territory.
Its broad, rounded wings produce a noticeable humming or thrumming sound during flight.
While appearing black and white from a distance, its upperparts feature brilliant green and purple iridescence.

Habitat

Open fields, damp grasslands, marshes, and agricultural land.

Range

Breeds across temperate Eurasia; migrates to North Africa, southern Asia, and Western Europe for winter.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Andean LapwingVanellus resplendens Banded LapwingVanellus tricolor Black-headed LapwingVanellus tectus Black-winged LapwingVanellus melanopterus Blacksmith LapwingVanellus armatus Brown-chested LapwingVanellus superciliosus Crowned LapwingVanellus coronatus Gray-headed LapwingVanellus cinereus

Heard a Northern Lapwing?

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