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

Ruff

Calidris pugnax

A medium-sized Palearctic wading bird famous for the spectacular lekking displays and ornate neck ruffs of the breeding males.

What it sounds like

Mostly silent; may emit low, gruff 'uk' or 'whit' notes during flight or at the lek.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Lars Edenius · SwedenCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Males possess three distinct, genetically determined morphs: territorial 'Independents', non-territorial 'Satellites', and female-mimicking 'Faeders'.
The species name 'pugnax' refers to the males' combative behavior during communal displays at traditional mating grounds called leks.
Females, which lack the ornate ruff and are significantly smaller than males, are specifically referred to as 'Reeves'.
It is a long-distance migrant, with some populations traveling from Arctic breeding grounds to wintering sites in sub-Saharan Africa.
The elaborate breeding plumage of the male is lost during the winter, making them look similar to the more cryptically colored females.

Habitat

Wet grasslands, tundra, and marshes during breeding; mudflats and inland wetlands during migration.

Range

Breeds across Northern Eurasia; winters in Africa, South Asia, and Australia.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdii Broad-billed SandpiperCalidris falcinellus Buff-breasted SandpiperCalidris subruficollis Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferruginea DunlinCalidris alpina Great KnotCalidris tenuirostris Least SandpiperCalidris minutilla Little StintCalidris minuta

Heard a Ruff?

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