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

Smew

Mergellus albellus

The Smew is a small, elegant diving duck and the sole member of its genus, famous for the male's stark white and black breeding plumage.

What it sounds like

Mostly silent, but males produce a mechanical rattling 'kr-rrr' during display, and females emit a harsh 'krr-krr' croak.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:13

Rec. Jarek Matusiak · PolandCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is the smallest species of merganser and frequently interbreeds with the Common Goldeneye.
Breeding males are nicknamed the 'White Nun' due to their distinctive snowy plumage and black mask.
They are obligate cavity nesters, often utilizing old holes created by Black Woodpeckers in lakeside trees.
The species is highly migratory, traveling from northern taiga breeding grounds to temperate Eurasian coasts and lakes.
Its serrated bill, or 'sawbill,' is specialized for gripping slippery fish and aquatic insect larvae while diving.

Habitat

Boreal forest lakes and slow-moving rivers during breeding; coastal bays, estuaries, and sheltered reservoirs in winter.

Range

Palearctic; breeds across northern Europe and Asia, wintering south to central Europe, China, and Japan.

Heard a Smew?

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