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

Virginia Rail

Rallus limicola

A secretive, chicken-like marsh bird known for its slender, laterally compressed body and long, slightly decurved reddish bill.

What it sounds like

A mechanical, rhythmic 'kid-ick, kid-ick' and a series of low, descending grunts.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:41

Rec. Sue Riffe · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

The Virginia Rail has the highest ratio of leg muscle to body weight of any bird species.
Their foreheads feature stiffened feathers to protect the skin from abrasion while pushing through dense reeds.
They are laterally compressed, an anatomical adaptation for moving through narrow gaps that inspired the phrase 'thin as a rail'.
Despite being wetland birds, they are capable of swimming and can even use their wings to propel themselves underwater.
They possess a specialized salt gland that allows them to inhabit brackish marshes as well as freshwater environments.

Habitat

Freshwater and brackish marshes with dense emergent vegetation like cattails and bulrushes.

Range

North America, breeding from southern Canada through the northern US and wintering in the southern US and Mexico.

Similar & commonly confused birds

African RailRallus caerulescens Austral RailRallus antarcticus Aztec RailRallus tenuirostris Bogota RailRallus semiplumbeus Brown-cheeked RailRallus indicus Clapper RailRallus crepitans Ecuadorian RailRallus aequatorialis King RailRallus elegans

Heard a Virginia Rail?

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