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

Swamp Francolin

Ortygornis gularis

The Swamp Francolin is a large, ground-dwelling bird of the pheasant family, uniquely adapted to the tall, wet grasslands of the Indian subcontinent.

What it sounds like

A loud, ringing, and repetitive 'chu-chuk-chuk' or 'ka-ka-ka-ree' often performed in a duet.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:11

Rec. Lars Lachmann · IndiaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List due to extensive drainage and conversion of its wetland habitats.
Unlike most francolins, this species is highly specialized for alluvial tall-grass environments and marshy reedbeds.
Both sexes are remarkably similar in appearance, featuring rufous throats and heavy brown streaking.
They are most active and visible during the breeding season when males call from elevated mounds or tracks.
Their diet is omnivorous, consisting of seeds, tubers, and insects scavenged from muddy substrate.

Habitat

Seasonally flooded tall grasslands (Terai), reedbeds, and marshes adjacent to rivers.

Range

Ganges and Brahmaputra river basins in northern India, Nepal, and Bangladesh.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Crested FrancolinOrtygornis sephaena Gray FrancolinOrtygornis pondicerianus

Heard a Swamp Francolin?

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