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

Paradise Shelduck

Tadorna variegata

A large, goose-like duck endemic to New Zealand, characterized by its striking sexual dimorphism and lifelong monogamous pair bonds.

What it sounds like

A loud, vocal duet where the male gives a low-pitched, guttural 'honk' and the female responds with a shrill, high-pitched 'zeek'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Guido O. Keijl · NetherlandsCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

The species is highly dimorphic: males have a velvet-black head and dark body, while females have a stark white head and chestnut-orange body.
They are primarily 'grazing ducks,' feeding on grasses and clover in open paddocks and sub-alpine meadows.
Paradise shelducks are monogamous and remain together for life, vigorously defending their territory as a pair.
During the post-breeding season, they undergo a simultaneous wing-moult that leaves them flightless for about four weeks.
While many native species declined after European settlement, this bird thrived due to the conversion of forests into the open pastures it prefers.

Habitat

Pastures, wetlands, riverbeds, and lakes ranging from sea level to sub-alpine zones.

Range

Endemic to New Zealand, widespread across the North, South, and Stewart Islands.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Australian ShelduckTadorna tadornoides Common ShelduckTadorna tadorna Crested ShelduckTadorna cristata Ruddy ShelduckTadorna ferruginea South African ShelduckTadorna cana

Heard a Paradise Shelduck?

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Identify a bird by its song