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

Reddish Egret

Egretta rufescens

A medium-sized, highly active heron of coastal shallows, famous for its energetic 'canopy-feeding' dance. It is dimorphic, appearing in both a shaggy-necked reddish morph and a pure white morph.

What it sounds like

Usually silent, but emits low, guttural croaks or 'wuk-wuk-wuk' vocalizations during courtship or territorial disputes.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Isain Contreras Rodríguez · MexicoCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Engages in 'canopy feeding' by spreading its wings to create shade, which reduces glare and attracts fish to the shadows.
Known as the most active forager among North American herons, frequently running, jumping, and spinning in shallow water to flush prey.
Displays a striking two-toned bill during the breeding season: a bright bubblegum-pink base with a sharp black tip.
Exists in two stable color morphs—dark and white—with the white morph being more common in certain Caribbean populations.
Was nearly extirpated from the United States in the late 19th century due to the plume trade, making it one of the rarest herons in North America today.

Habitat

Coastal salt marshes, hypersaline lagoons, tidal flats, and shallow mangrove estuaries.

Range

Coastal regions of the Gulf of Mexico, Florida, the Caribbean, Central America, and Baja California.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Black HeronEgretta ardesiaca Chinese EgretEgretta eulophotes Little Blue HeronEgretta caerulea Little EgretEgretta garzetta Pacific Reef-HeronEgretta sacra Pied HeronEgretta picata Slaty EgretEgretta vinaceigula Slaty EgretEgretta vinaceigula

Heard a Reddish Egret?

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Identify a bird by its song