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

Rodrigues Night Heron

Nycticorax megacephalus

An extinct, robust heron endemic to Rodrigues Island, notable for its large head and reduced flight capabilities. It was a primarily terrestrial predator that specialized in hunting land crabs before its mid-18th-century disappearance.

What it sounds like

Described by early settlers as a harsh, repetitive croaking or 'quok' sound.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

No reference call found yet · Xeno-canto

Field notes

Possessed an exceptionally large head and heavy bill specifically adapted for crushing the shells of land crabs.
While not entirely flightless, its skeletal structure shows significantly reduced wing bones, indicating it was a poor flyer.
Early accounts by explorer François Leguat in 1708 noted the species was remarkably tame and unafraid of humans.
Subfossil evidence suggests it was the most terrestrial member of the Nycticorax genus, often found far from open water.
The species was driven to extinction by the 1760s due to heavy hunting by sailors and predation by introduced cats.

Habitat

Wooded areas, marshes, and rocky coastal zones.

Range

Rodrigues Island (Mascarene Islands), Indian Ocean.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Ascension Night HeronNycticorax olsoni Black-crowned Night HeronNycticorax nycticorax Black-crowned Night-HeronNycticorax nycticorax Mauritius Night HeronNycticorax mauritianus Nankeen Night HeronNycticorax caledonicus Reunion Night HeronNycticorax duboisi

Heard a Rodrigues Night Heron?

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