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-throated Loon

Gavia stellata

The smallest and most widely distributed member of the loon family, characterized by its slender, slightly upturned bill and elegant profile.

What it sounds like

A rhythmic, goose-like 'kwuck' in flight and a long, mournful, rising wail or shriek while on the water.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:15

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

Field notes

It is the only loon capable of taking flight directly from land or small bodies of water without a long running start on the surface.
Unlike other loons, it frequently flies to marine environments to forage for fish even while nesting on freshwater tundra pools.
The eponymous red throat patch is a seasonal plumage trait used for courtship and is lost during the winter molt.
They are the most vocal loon species, known for performing complex aerial duets and displays during the breeding season.
Their legs are positioned so far back on their bodies that they are nearly incapable of walking, moving on land by sliding on their bellies.

Habitat

Breeds on small, fishless tundra ponds; winters in shallow, protected coastal marine waters and estuaries.

Range

Holarctic distribution, breeding across the Arctic and wintering along the northern coasts of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Arctic LoonGavia arctica Common LoonGavia immer Pacific LoonGavia pacifica Yellow-billed LoonGavia adamsii

Heard a Red-throated Loon?

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