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

Rock Sandpiper

Calidris ptilocnemis

A robust, cold-hardy shorebird specialized for life on wave-washed rocky coasts and northern tundra. It is the only sandpiper species that regularly winters in the frigid sub-Arctic regions of the North Pacific.

What it sounds like

A sharp, metallic 'prip-prip' or 'chu-it'; the breeding song is a series of rhythmic, buzzing trills and whistles.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:08

Rec. Patrik Åberg · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is the northernmost wintering shorebird in the Pacific, often remaining in ice-fringed areas of the Bering Sea throughout the winter.
To survive extreme sub-freezing temperatures, it can increase its body mass by up to 25% through specialized fat storage.
The species is divided into four subspecies, with the Pribilof Islands population being the largest and palest in coloration.
Unlike most congeners, it avoids sandy beaches, preferring to forage for mollusks and crustaceans on slippery, kelp-covered rocks.
During the breeding season, it performs high-altitude aerial displays characterized by steep dives and rhythmic buzzing songs.

Habitat

Rocky intertidal shorelines, jetties, and reefs during winter; mossy or lichen-rich tundra and alpine slopes for nesting.

Range

North Pacific coasts, spanning from Alaska and the Aleutian Islands to eastern Russia, wintering south to California.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdii Broad-billed SandpiperCalidris falcinellus Buff-breasted SandpiperCalidris subruficollis Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferruginea DunlinCalidris alpina Great KnotCalidris tenuirostris Least SandpiperCalidris minutilla Little StintCalidris minuta

Heard a Rock Sandpiper?

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