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 Shelduck

Tadorna ferruginea

A large, distinctive waterfowl with orange-brown plumage and a pale head, often behaving more like a goose than a typical duck.

What it sounds like

A loud, resonant, and nasal honking 'ang-ang' or 'aakh', reminiscent of a goose.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Bo Shunqi 薄顺奇 · ChinaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is known for nesting in unusual locations such as high-altitude tree hollows, cliff crevices, and abandoned animal burrows far from water.
The species is largely nocturnal, frequently foraging for grain, sprouts, and invertebrates in agricultural fields during the night.
During the breeding season, males develop a narrow black ring around the lower neck, which disappears during the winter moult.
In Buddhist mythology, it is revered as a symbol of fidelity and is often referred to as the Brahminy duck.
Populations breeding in the Tibetan Plateau are capable of migrating over the Himalayas at altitudes exceeding 6,800 meters.

Habitat

Inland lakes, saline lagoons, and high-altitude wetlands, as well as surrounding grasslands and agricultural fields.

Range

Breeds from Southeast Europe across Central Asia to China and North Africa; winters primarily in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Australian ShelduckTadorna tadornoides Common ShelduckTadorna tadorna Crested ShelduckTadorna cristata Paradise ShelduckTadorna variegata South African ShelduckTadorna cana

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