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

Snow Goose

Anser caerulescens

A medium-sized waterfowl famous for its massive, noisy migratory flocks and two distinct plumage color morphs.

What it sounds like

A high-pitched, nasal barking 'houck' or 'whouk,' often sounding like a cacophony of yelps from a distance.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 1:24

Rec. Denis Provencher · CanadaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Occurs in two color phases, white and 'blue,' which were once thought to be separate species until it was discovered they interbreed.
The bill features a black serrated 'grin patch' along the tomia, which helps distinguish it from the smaller Ross's Goose.
Population numbers have increased so dramatically that they are now considered overabundant, causing significant damage to fragile Arctic nesting habitats.
Goslings are precocial and capable of walking several miles from the nest to find brooding areas within a day of hatching.
During migration, they are known to fly at altitudes of up to 20,000 feet, often in shifting V-formations or long lines.

Habitat

Arctic tundra during breeding season; salt marshes, freshwater wetlands, and harvested agricultural fields during winter.

Range

Breeds in the high Arctic of North America and Greenland; winters across the southern United States and Mexico.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Bar-headed GooseAnser indicus Emperor GooseAnser canagicus Graylag GooseAnser anser Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifrons Lesser White-fronted GooseAnser erythropus Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchus Ross's GooseAnser rossii Swan GooseAnser cygnoides

Heard a Snow Goose?

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