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

Redhead

Aythya americana

A medium-sized North American diving duck, the Redhead is easily identified by the male's vibrant cinnamon head and distinctive sloping profile. It is well-known among ornithologists for its complex social behavior and reproductive strategies.

What it sounds like

Males produce a unique, cat-like 'me-ow' during courtship, while females give a low, growling 'kurrr' call.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:41

Rec. Peter Ward and Ken Hall · CanadaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Redheads are notorious brood parasites, frequently laying their eggs in the nests of other duck species, including Canvasbacks and Mallards.
Unlike many other diving ducks, they often feed in shallow water by tipping their tails up like dabbling ducks.
During the winter, they form massive social groups called 'rafts' that can contain tens of thousands of individuals.
The species has a specialized salt gland that allows it to inhabit and drink from hypersaline coastal lagoons during the winter months.
The male's bill is a pale blue-gray with a distinct black tip, separated by a narrow white band.

Habitat

Nests in deepwater prairie potholes and marshes; winters on large freshwater lakes and brackish coastal lagoons.

Range

Breeds primarily in the northern Great Plains and Intermountain West; winters across the southern United States and Mexico.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Baer's PochardAythya baeri CanvasbackAythya valisineria Common PochardAythya ferina Ferruginous DuckAythya nyroca Greater ScaupAythya marila HardheadAythya australis Lesser ScaupAythya affinis Madagascar PochardAythya innotata

Heard a Redhead?

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