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

Red Grouse

Lagopus scotica

The Red Grouse is a robust, sedentary game bird endemic to the British Isles, distinguished by its rich reddish-brown plumage and feathered feet.

What it sounds like

A rapid, nasal series of barks and a very distinct, accelerating 'go-back, go-back, go-back' command.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

No reference call found yet · Xeno-canto

Field notes

Unlike its close relative the Willow Ptarmigan, the Red Grouse does not develop white winter plumage.
The species is a dietary specialist, with young heather shoots comprising up to 90% of its annual food intake.
Male birds possess prominent, fleshy red combs above their eyes that become engorged and more vibrant during the breeding season.
It is a master of camouflage, with its intricate brown patterns mimicking the shadows and textures of peat and heather.
The population is heavily managed via 'muirburn,' the rotational burning of heather to provide a mix of nutritious young shoots and old nesting cover.

Habitat

Upland heather moorlands, blanket bogs, and sub-alpine shrublands.

Range

Endemic to the British Isles, including Great Britain and Ireland.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Rock PtarmiganLagopus muta White-tailed PtarmiganLagopus leucura Willow PtarmiganLagopus lagopus

Heard a Red Grouse?

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