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

Semipalmated Sandpiper

Calidris pusilla

The Semipalmated Sandpiper is a small, gregarious shorebird known for its incredible long-distance migrations and distinctive partially webbed feet. It is a quintessential 'peep,' often gathering in massive flocks on coastal mudflats during its journey between the Arctic and South America.

What it sounds like

A short, sharp, high-pitched 'cherk' or 'chep' given in flight; breeding calls include a repetitive, mechanical trill.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. AUDEVARD Aurélien · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

The name 'semipalmated' refers to the partial webbing between its three front toes, an adaptation that helps the bird walk on soft mud without sinking.
During migration stopovers at the Bay of Fundy, individuals can double their body weight by consuming thousands of amphipods daily.
Some populations perform a non-stop transoceanic flight of over 3,000 kilometers from the northeastern United States to South America.
While highly social during migration, males are fiercely territorial on the Arctic tundra, using hovering flight displays to defend nesting sites.
It is nearly identical to the Western Sandpiper but can be distinguished by its shorter, straighter bill with a slightly bulbous tip.

Habitat

Arctic tundra for breeding; coastal mudflats, estuaries, and sandy beaches during migration and winter.

Range

Breeds across northern Alaska and Canada; winters along the coasts of Central and South America and the Caribbean.

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 Semipalmated Sandpiper?

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