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 Grebe

Podiceps grisegena

The Red-necked Grebe is a medium-sized migratory waterbird known for its striking rufous plumage and elaborate courtship rituals. It spends its breeding season on inland freshwater bodies and winters in coastal marine environments.

What it sounds like

A series of loud, harsh, braying and whinnying notes often compared to the sound of a pig or a donkey.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:34

Rec. Uku Paal · EstoniaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Consumes its own feathers to create a plug in the stomach that protects the digestive tract from sharp fish bones.
Constructs floating nests made of decaying aquatic vegetation that are usually anchored to emergent plants in shallow water.
Parents exhibit 'back-brooding' behavior, where chicks ride on the adult's back to stay warm and avoid predators.
Highly territorial during the breeding season, they engage in aggressive underwater pursuits to drive off intruders.
Their legs are positioned far back on the body, making them powerful divers but leaving them virtually unable to walk on land.

Habitat

Shallow freshwater lakes and marshes during breeding; coastal salt water and estuaries during the winter.

Range

Holarctic distribution across North America, Europe, and northern Asia.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Colombian GrebePodiceps andinus Eared GrebePodiceps nigricollis Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatus Great GrebePodiceps major Hooded GrebePodiceps gallardoi Horned GrebePodiceps auritus Junin GrebePodiceps taczanowskii Silvery GrebePodiceps occipitalis

Heard a Red-necked Grebe?

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