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

Ross's Goose

Anser rossii

The Ross's Goose is a diminutive white waterfowl characterized by its small stature and short, triangular bill without a 'grinning patch'. It is often found in large mixed flocks with its larger relative, the Snow Goose.

What it sounds like

A high-pitched, squeaky 'keek-keek' or yelp that is noticeably higher and thinner than the call of a Snow Goose.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:18

Rec. Paul Marvin · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is the smallest of the North American geese, reaching a size comparable to a Mallard duck.
Adults develop distinct bluish, warty protuberances called caruncles at the base of the upper mandible.
While primarily white, a rare 'blue morph' exists with dark feathers and a white head, similar to the Snow Goose.
The population has seen a massive recovery from only a few thousand in the 1950s to over two million today.
Unlike Snow Geese, Ross's Geese lack the black curved line along the bill edge known as a grinning patch.

Habitat

Arctic tundra for breeding; agricultural fields, marshes, and shallow lakes for wintering.

Range

Breeds in the central Canadian Arctic; winters in the southern United States and northern Mexico.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Bar-headed GooseAnser indicus Emperor GooseAnser canagicus Graylag GooseAnser anser Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifrons Lesser White-fronted GooseAnser erythropus Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchus Snow GooseAnser caerulescens Swan GooseAnser cygnoides

Heard a Ross's Goose?

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