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

Stilt Sandpiper

Calidris himantopus

A medium-sized shorebird notable for its disproportionately long greenish legs and a slightly decurved bill, often observed feeding with a rhythmic 'sewing machine' motion.

What it sounds like

A low, hoarse, or husky 'krrit' or 'querp,' typically given during flight.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:51

Rec. Tristan Guillebot de Nerville · French GuianaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It was historically placed in its own monotypic genus, Micropalama, due to its unique skeletal structure.
Breeding adults exhibit striking chestnut-colored cheek patches and heavy dark barring across the underparts.
It typically forages in deeper water than other similarly sized sandpipers, often submerging its entire head to find prey.
The species is a long-distance migrant, with many individuals traveling from the high Arctic to the pampas of South America.
Unlike many shorebirds, it rarely forms massive single-species flocks, instead associating with Dowitchers and Yellowlegs.

Habitat

Nests in wet Arctic tundra; winters in freshwater lagoons, marshes, and flooded agricultural fields.

Range

Breeds in the North American Arctic; migrates through the interior and winters primarily in South America.

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 Stilt Sandpiper?

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