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

Ruddy Duck

Oxyura jamaicensis

A small, chunky stiff-tailed diving duck notable for the male's vibrant sky-blue bill and vertical tail posture during the breeding season.

What it sounds like

Generally silent, but males produce low, rhythmic tapping or drumming sounds by beating their bills against their chests.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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

Field notes

They lay the largest eggs relative to their body size of any North American waterfowl species.
Males perform a unique courtship display called 'bubble-lifting' by slapping their bills against their chests to create bubbles.
Their legs are set so far back on their bodies that they are highly efficient divers but nearly unable to walk on land.
Ruddy Ducks are often seen swimming with their stiff, spiky tail feathers cocked vertically at a 90-degree angle.
During the breeding season, males are highly aggressive and will chase other birds, including those much larger than themselves.

Habitat

Freshwater marshes, prairie potholes, and alkaline lakes for breeding; coastal bays and estuaries for wintering.

Range

Native to North and Central America; introduced and invasive populations exist in Western Europe.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Andean DuckOxyura ferruginea Blue-billed DuckOxyura australis Lake DuckOxyura vittata Maccoa DuckOxyura maccoa White-headed DuckOxyura leucocephala

Heard a Ruddy Duck?

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