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

Swan Goose

Anser cygnoides

A large, elegant goose of East Asia characterized by a long, heavy bill and a distinctively bicolored neck. It is the wild ancestor of most domestic goose breeds.

What it sounds like

A loud, high-pitched, and prolonged trumpeting honk, often described as a musical 'a-hang-hang'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:46

Rec. Ding Li Yong · MongoliaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is the primary wild ancestor of domestic Chinese and African goose breeds, which inherited its characteristic basal knob.
The species is currently classified as Vulnerable due to rapid population declines caused by overhunting and habitat conversion.
It possesses a uniquely long, sloping black bill that is significantly more elongated than those of other Anser species.
During the breeding season, it primarily inhabits the remote steppe and taiga-edge lakes of Mongolia and northern China.
Unlike many geese, it is often seen foraging in deeper water, using its long neck to reach submerged aquatic vegetation.

Habitat

Inland lakes, marshes, river valleys, and flooded grasslands near steppe or forest-steppe zones.

Range

Breeds in Mongolia, northern China, and southeastern Russia; winters primarily in central and eastern China.

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 Snow GooseAnser caerulescens

Heard a Swan 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