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 Shoveler

Spatula platalea

The Red Shoveler is a medium-sized dabbling duck endemic to South America, instantly recognizable by its oversized, spatula-shaped bill and the male's rich cinnamon plumage.

What it sounds like

Generally silent; males produce a low, rhythmic 'tuk-tuk' or 'krrook' during courtship, while females give a soft, raspy quack.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. GABRIEL LEITE · ArgentinaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Possesses specialized fine lamellae along the edges of the bill used to filter-feed on microscopic plankton and small invertebrates.
It is the only species of shoveler native to the Southern Cone and temperate regions of South America.
Males display a striking pale blue patch on the forewing and a green speculum, which are most visible during flight.
Populations breeding in the extreme south, such as Tierra del Fuego, migrate north to southern Brazil and Paraguay during the austral winter.
Nests are typically constructed on the ground in dense vegetation, often a significant distance from the water's edge to avoid predators.

Habitat

Freshwater marshes, shallow lakes, brackish lagoons, and coastal estuaries.

Range

Southern South America, ranging from central Chile and Argentina south to Tierra del Fuego and the Falkland Islands.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Australasian ShovelerSpatula rhynchotis Blue-billed TealSpatula hottentota Blue-winged TealSpatula discors Cape ShovelerSpatula smithii Cinnamon TealSpatula cyanoptera GarganeySpatula querquedula Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeata Puna TealSpatula puna

Heard a Red Shoveler?

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