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

Velvet Scoter

Melanitta fusca

The Velvet Scoter is a large, heavy-bodied sea duck recognized by its velvet-black plumage and prominent white secondary wing patches visible during flight.

What it sounds like

Usually silent; males produce a thin, whistling 'whirr' during display, while females emit a harsh, guttural 'karr-karr-karr'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Juha Saari · FinlandCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is distinguished from the North American White-winged Scoter by its flatter bill profile and different feathering pattern at the base of the bill.
Adult males feature a diagnostic small, white comma-shaped patch just below the eye and a bright orange-yellow tip on a knobbed bill.
The species is a specialized benthic feeder, diving to depths of up to 30 meters to consume mollusks, crustaceans, and insect larvae.
Velvet Scoters are known to engage in 'crèching' behavior, where multiple broods are combined and guarded by one or several adult females.
Currently classified as Vulnerable, the species has faced significant population declines in its primary wintering stronghold, the Baltic Sea.

Habitat

Breeds near inland freshwater lakes and tundra pools; winters in shallow, nutrient-rich coastal marine waters.

Range

Palearctic; breeds from Scandinavia through Siberia and winters along the coasts of Europe, the Black Sea, and the Caspian Sea.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Black ScoterMelanitta americana Common ScoterMelanitta nigra Stejneger's ScoterMelanitta stejnegeri Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillata White-winged ScoterMelanitta deglandi

Heard a Velvet Scoter?

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