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 Turnstone

Arenaria interpres

A stocky, medium-sized shorebird characterized by its harlequin-like plumage and specialized foraging behavior of flipping debris.

What it sounds like

A rapid, staccato rattling 'tuck-tuck-tuck' or a sharp 'kew-kew-kew'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:09

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

Field notes

Named for its distinctive habit of using its wedge-shaped bill to flip over stones, shells, and seaweed to find prey.
Displays a striking 'calico' breeding plumage featuring vibrant chestnut-red, black, and white patterns.
A remarkable long-distance migrant, some populations travel over 10,000 kilometers from the High Arctic to southern hemispheres.
Highly opportunistic, its diet extends beyond invertebrates to include bird eggs, carrion, and even human food scraps.
Possesses short, bright orange legs which help distinguish it from other shorebirds during the non-breeding season.

Habitat

Rocky shorelines, coastal beaches, and jetties; nests on open Arctic tundra.

Range

Circumpolar Arctic breeding grounds; winters along coastlines globally, including the Americas, Europe, Africa, and Oceania.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Black TurnstoneArenaria melanocephala

Heard a Ruddy Turnstone?

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