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-necked Avocet

Recurvirostra novaehollandiae

An elegant Australian shorebird characterized by its striking chestnut head and neck, white plumage with black wing stripes, and a thin, upturned bill.

What it sounds like

A high-pitched, musical 'toot-toot' or a sharp, yapping 'whyt-whyt'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:19

Rec. Marc Anderson · AustraliaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

It uses its unique upcurved bill to forage with a distinctive side-to-side 'scything' motion through shallow water.
Unlike most other waders, it is a capable swimmer and possesses partially webbed feet to navigate deeper sections of wetlands.
It is highly nomadic, traveling thousands of kilometers across the Australian interior to exploit ephemeral salt lakes after rain.
Breeding occurs in loose colonies where pairs perform synchronized bowing and ritualized preening as part of their courtship.
When a predator approaches the nest, the adults perform a convincing 'broken-wing' distraction display to lure the threat away.

Habitat

Shallow saline and brackish wetlands, including salt lakes, estuaries, and floodwaters.

Range

Endemic to Australia, found throughout the mainland and occasionally in Tasmania.

Similar & commonly confused birds

American AvocetRecurvirostra americana Andean AvocetRecurvirostra andina Pied AvocetRecurvirostra avosetta

Heard a Red-necked Avocet?

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