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

Ring-necked Duck

Aythya collaris

A distinctive diving duck characterized by a peaked crown and a prominent white band on the bill rather than its faint, namesake neck ring.

What it sounds like

Generally silent, but females may give a harsh, growling 'errrr-oo' and males a low-pitched courtship whistle.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Richard E. Webster · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

The eponymous chestnut neck ring is rarely visible in the field and is best seen on specimens in hand.
Unlike most other diving ducks, this species is capable of taking flight directly from the water without a running start.
It frequently inhabits shallow, vegetated wetlands and wooded ponds, habitats more typical of dabbling ducks.
The Ring-necked Duck is a common vagrant to Europe, often arriving via North Atlantic weather systems.
Despite its diving nature, its diet consists heavily of aquatic plants like pondweeds and water lilies during the breeding season.

Habitat

Wooded lakes, shallow freshwater marshes, and acidic bogs.

Range

Breeds across the northern United States and Canada; winters throughout the southern U.S., Mexico, and the Caribbean.

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 Ring-necked Duck?

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