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

Pink-backed Pelican

Pelecanus rufescens

A relatively small African pelican species characterized by its greyish-white plumage and a distinctive pinkish wash on its back during the breeding season.

What it sounds like

Generally silent when away from the nest, but emits various low-pitched grunts, hisses, and croaks within breeding colonies.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Alain Malengreau · SenegalCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is one of the smaller pelican species, possessing a wingspan of approximately 2.4 meters, significantly less than the Great White Pelican.
Unlike many other pelicans that nest on the ground, this species prefers nesting in trees, often forming dense colonies in baobabs or acacias.
The 'pink-backed' coloration is a seasonal trait, appearing most intensely on the lower back and rump during courtship and nesting.
They are known to practice commensalism by following hippopotamuses to catch fish that are flushed out by the large mammals' movements.
The species is capable of soaring to great heights on thermals, often traveling long distances between roosting sites and foraging grounds.

Habitat

Freshwater lakes, swamps, seasonal pools, and large rivers, occasionally visiting alkaline lakes and coastal lagoons.

Range

Widespread across Sub-Saharan Africa, the Red Sea coast, and southwestern Arabia.

Similar & commonly confused birds

American White PelicanPelecanus erythrorhynchos Australian PelicanPelecanus conspicillatus Brown PelicanPelecanus occidentalis Dalmatian PelicanPelecanus crispus Great White PelicanPelecanus onocrotalus Peruvian PelicanPelecanus thagus Spot-billed PelicanPelecanus philippensis

Heard a Pink-backed Pelican?

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