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-knobbed Coot

Fulica cristata

The Red-knobbed Coot is a bulky, slate-black waterbird in the rail family, recognized by its white frontal shield and namesake red caruncles.

What it sounds like

A harsh, metallic 'kerrre' or a rhythmic 'ka-haa', generally deeper and more grating than the call of the Common Coot.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Santiago Caballero Carrera · SpainCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Distinguishable from the Eurasian Coot by the absence of a white trailing edge on the secondary wing feathers.
Features large, lobed toes rather than webbed feet, providing propulsion in water and stability on floating vegetation.
The pair of red fleshy knobs atop the frontal shield swell in size and intensity during the breeding season.
Exhibits extreme territorial aggression, often 'pattering' across the water surface to physically strike intruders with its feet.
Constructs a floating platform nest of aquatic reeds, which is typically anchored to submerged plants to prevent drifting.

Habitat

Open freshwater lakes, ponds, and marshes with fringing emergent vegetation.

Range

Primarily Sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar, with a small relict population in southern Spain and Morocco.

Similar & commonly confused birds

American CootFulica americana Eurasian CootFulica atra Giant CootFulica gigantea Hawaiian CootFulica alai Horned CootFulica cornuta Mascarene CootFulica newtonii Red-fronted CootFulica rufifrons Red-gartered CootFulica armillata

Heard a Red-knobbed Coot?

Open Birdsong, tap record, and identify the bird singing near you in seconds — then collect it in your field journal.

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