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-throated Dipper

Cinclus schulzii

A rare, specialized aquatic songbird of the Southern Andes, distinguished by its slate-grey plumage and a vivid rufous patch on its throat.

What it sounds like

A sharp, high-pitched 'zeet' or 'zit' call designed to be heard over the noise of rushing water.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Peter Boesman · ArgentinaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN due to its small, fragmented population and high habitat specificity.
The species is unique among South American passerines for its ability to dive and walk along the streambed to forage.
Its diet consists almost exclusively of aquatic invertebrates, particularly caddisfly and mayfly larvae.
It is highly territorial and typically occupies a linear stretch of river measuring several hundred meters.
Nests are globular structures made of moss and grass, often built on rock ledges or bridges directly above turbulent water.

Habitat

Fast-flowing, clear mountain streams and rivers, typically between 1,500 and 2,500 meters in elevation.

Range

A restricted range in the Southern Andes of southern Bolivia and northwestern Argentina.

Similar & commonly confused birds

American DipperCinclus mexicanus Brown DipperCinclus pallasii Rufous-throated DipperCinclus schulzii White-capped DipperCinclus leucocephalus White-throated DipperCinclus cinclus

Heard a Rufous-throated Dipper?

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