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

Pied Heron

Egretta picata

A small, distinctive heron characterized by its starkly contrasting slate-grey body and white throat and neck. It is highly gregarious, often seen in large flocks across tropical northern wetlands.

What it sounds like

Typically silent, but utters a harsh, guttural croak or 'ark' when disturbed or at the nest.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Marc Anderson · AustraliaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

Juvenile individuals lack the dark slate-grey crown and crest of adults, instead possessing entirely white heads.
Unlike many related egret species, the Pied Heron does not exhibit a white color morph.
During the breeding season, their normally yellow legs can change to a vibrant reddish-pink color.
They often employ a 'disturb-and-chase' feeding technique, actively running through shallow water to flush out prey.
The species is known to nest in massive mixed-species colonies, sometimes comprising thousands of individual birds.

Habitat

Seasonally flooded grasslands, freshwater swamps, billabongs, and coastal mudflats.

Range

Northern Australia, New Guinea, and eastern Indonesia (Wallacea).

Similar & commonly confused birds

Black HeronEgretta ardesiaca Chinese EgretEgretta eulophotes Little Blue HeronEgretta caerulea Little EgretEgretta garzetta Pacific Reef-HeronEgretta sacra Reddish EgretEgretta rufescens Slaty EgretEgretta vinaceigula Slaty EgretEgretta vinaceigula

Heard a Pied Heron?

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

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