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

Plumed Whistling-Duck

Dendrocygna eytoni

A tall, elegant duck distinguished by its upright stance and elongated, cream-colored plumes sweeping up from its flanks. It is more terrestrial than most waterfowl, often found grazing in large, noisy flocks.

What it sounds like

A loud, high-pitched, multi-syllabic whistle, often described as a shrill, twittering 'chip-chip-chip'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:48

Rec. Peter Boesman · AustraliaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

Features long, lanceolate plumes arising from the flanks that overlap the wings when standing.
Primarily a nocturnal grazer, feeding on short grasses and herbs rather than typical aquatic vegetation.
Forms massive aggregations during the dry season, sometimes numbering in the thousands near permanent water sources.
Lacks the sexual dimorphism common in many duck species, with males and females sharing identical plumage.
Produces a distinctive whistling sound not just vocally, but also through its wings during takeoff.

Habitat

Tropical grasslands, floodplains, and the margins of freshwater lagoons, dams, and swamps.

Range

Endemic to Australia, primarily ranging across the northern and eastern regions of the continent.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Black-bellied Whistling-DuckDendrocygna autumnalis Fulvous Whistling-DuckDendrocygna bicolor Lesser Whistling-DuckDendrocygna javanica Lesser Whistling-DuckDendrocygna javanica Spotted Whistling-DuckDendrocygna guttata Wandering Whistling-DuckDendrocygna arcuata West Indian Whistling-DuckDendrocygna arborea White-faced Whistling-DuckDendrocygna viduata

Heard a Plumed Whistling-Duck?

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