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

South African Shelduck

Tadorna cana

A large, Southern African endemic duck known for its striking sexual dimorphism and preference for nesting in underground burrows.

What it sounds like

A loud, deep, two-syllabled honk described as 'how-how' or 'hark-hark'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 1:13

Rec. Dawie de Swardt · South AfricaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Females possess a distinctive white face and crown, whereas males have a uniform ash-grey head.
Unlike most waterfowl, they frequently nest in abandoned aardvark burrows located far from water.
During the post-breeding season, thousands congregate at specific deep-water sites for a synchronous flightless moulting period.
They are highly territorial and aggressive, often chasing other waterfowl away from their chosen nesting and feeding sites.
Their diet is primarily vegetarian, consisting of agricultural grain, succulent leaves, and various aquatic plants.

Habitat

Shallow freshwater dams, salt pans, and open grassy areas near permanent water sources.

Range

Endemic to Southern Africa, specifically South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, and parts of Botswana.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Australian ShelduckTadorna tadornoides Common ShelduckTadorna tadorna Crested ShelduckTadorna cristata Paradise ShelduckTadorna variegata Ruddy ShelduckTadorna ferruginea

Heard a South African Shelduck?

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