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

Pacific Golden-Plover

Pluvialis fulva

A medium-sized shorebird renowned for its extraordinary trans-Pacific migrations and striking gold-flecked dorsal plumage. It is a highly resilient species that transitions between remote Arctic breeding grounds and diverse wintering sites across the Pacific basin.

What it sounds like

A sharp, high-pitched, and melodic two-syllabled whistle, often rendered as 'chu-it' or 'tu-ee'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. guus van duin · NetherlandsCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Performs non-stop trans-oceanic flights between Alaska and Hawaii, covering over 3,000 miles in roughly three to four days.
Exhibits remarkable site fidelity, with individuals often returning to the exact same patch of grass or suburban lawn every winter.
Breeding plumage features a stark jet-black face and underparts separated from the gold-dappled back by a crisp white border.
Unlike most shorebirds, it lacks a hind toe (hallux), an evolutionary trait characteristic of the genus Pluvialis.
Known in Hawaii as 'Kōlea,' the bird was historically used by indigenous navigators to find land.

Habitat

Arctic tundra for nesting; winters in varied environments including coastal mudflats, pastures, golf courses, and cemeteries.

Range

Breeds in northern Siberia and western Alaska; winters across Oceania, Southeast Asia, and Australasia.

Similar & commonly confused birds

American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominica Black-bellied PloverPluvialis squatarola European Golden-PloverPluvialis apricaria

Heard a Pacific Golden-Plover?

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