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

Plumbeous Rail

Pardirallus sanguinolentus

A medium-sized, slate-colored wetland bird notable for its multicolored bill and loud, rhythmic vocalizations.

What it sounds like

A loud, frantic series of rhythmic squeals and piping whistles, often accelerating into a chaotic duet.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Guillermo Menéndez (gmmv80) · UruguayCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Possesses a distinctive bright red or orange spot at the base of the lower mandible near the gape.
Unlike many secretive rails, it is relatively bold and frequently forages in the open at the edge of reedbeds.
The iris is a striking ruby red, contrasting sharply with its lead-gray plumage.
It is a capable swimmer and will readily cross open water to reach new foraging grounds.
Pairs engage in loud, synchronized antiphonal duetting to defend their territory.

Habitat

Freshwater marshes, wet meadows, reedbeds, and irrigated pastures.

Range

Widespread across temperate and subtropical South America, from Peru and eastern Brazil south to Tierra del Fuego.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Blackish RailPardirallus nigricans Spotted RailPardirallus maculatus

Heard a Plumbeous Rail?

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Identify a bird by its song