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

Rufous-bellied Heron

Ardeola rufiventris

A small, elusive African heron characterized by its deep slate-grey upperparts and contrasting rich rufous belly.

What it sounds like

Typically silent, but produces a low, harsh 'kraak' or 'wok' when alarmed or during displays.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Dries Van de Loock · ZambiaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is primarily crepuscular, preferring to forage in dense vegetation during the dawn and dusk hours.
Unlike many other herons, its bright yellow legs and feet contrast sharply with its dark plumage during flight.
During the breeding season, its lores and the base of its bill change color to a more vibrant pink or red.
It is a semi-colonial nester, often forming small colonies of 6 to 30 pairs in reedbeds or trees over water.
Its diet is highly varied, consisting of small fish like tilapia, amphibians, and large aquatic insects.

Habitat

Seasonally flooded grasslands, shallow floodplains, marshes, and dense reed beds.

Range

Sub-Saharan Africa, with the highest concentrations in south-central regions such as Zambia and Botswana.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Chinese Pond-HeronArdeola bacchus Indian Pond-HeronArdeola grayii Javan Pond-HeronArdeola speciosa Malagasy Pond-HeronArdeola idae Squacco HeronArdeola ralloides

Heard a Rufous-bellied Heron?

Open Birdsong, tap record, and identify the bird singing near you in seconds — then collect it in your field journal.

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