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

Pin-tailed Snipe

Gallinago stenura

A medium-sized, cryptically patterned wader characterized by its specialized tail morphology and rapid, zigzagging flight.

What it sounds like

A short, raspy 'squaik' when flushed; the aerial display features a rhythmic 'tcheka-tcheka' sound.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Bo Shunqi 薄顺奇 · ChinaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Possesses 26 to 28 tail feathers, with the outer 6 to 9 on each side being extremely narrow and needle-like.
The modified 'pin' feathers produce a unique whistling sound during the bird's high-speed aerial courtship dives.
Lacks the conspicuous white trailing edge on the wings that distinguishes it from the Common Snipe.
It is nearly identical to Swinhoe's Snipe in the field, often requiring hand-in-wing examination for definitive ID.
Migrates long distances from Siberian breeding grounds to reach wintering sites as far south as Indonesia and Australia.

Habitat

Freshwater wetlands, marshes, wet meadows, and flooded rice paddies.

Range

Breeds across Northern Russia and Siberia; winters in South and Southeast Asia.

Similar & commonly confused birds

African SnipeGallinago nigripennis Common SnipeGallinago gallinago Fuegian SnipeGallinago stricklandii Giant SnipeGallinago undulata Great SnipeGallinago media Imperial SnipeGallinago imperialis Jameson's SnipeGallinago jamesoni Jameson's SnipeGallinago jamesoni

Heard a Pin-tailed Snipe?

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