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

Oriental Darter

Anhinga melanogaster

The Oriental Darter is a large, slender water bird characterized by its exceptionally long neck and pointed bill, often referred to as the 'snakebird' due to its appearance while swimming.

What it sounds like

Generally silent outside of nesting sites, where it produces harsh, guttural croaks and clicking sounds.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:03

Rec. Uku Paal · Sri LankaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It hunts by impaling fish with its sharp, serrated bill using a rapid, spring-loaded strike facilitated by specialized neck vertebrae.
Unlike many water birds, its feathers are not fully waterproof, which reduces buoyancy and allows it to dive more efficiently.
After foraging, it must spend significant time perching with wings spread to dry its waterlogged plumage in the sun.
The species possesses a unique hinge-like mechanism at the eighth and ninth cervical vertebrae to power its underwater thrusts.
It is currently classified as Near Threatened due to the impacts of habitat degradation, pollution, and nest site disturbance.

Habitat

Shallow freshwater lakes, slow-moving rivers, swamps, and occasionally brackish estuaries.

Range

Widespread across South and Southeast Asia, including India, Sri Lanka, Indochina, and the Malay Archipelago.

Similar & commonly confused birds

African DarterAnhinga rufa AnhingaAnhinga anhinga Australasian DarterAnhinga novaehollandiae

Heard a Oriental Darter?

Open Birdsong, tap record, and identify the bird singing near you in seconds — then collect it in your field journal.

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