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

Western Sandpiper

Calidris mauri

A small, highly gregarious shorebird characterized by its relatively long, slightly drooped bill and rufous-toned breeding plumage.

What it sounds like

A high-pitched, thin, and slightly raspy 'cheep' or 'jeet', typically higher than that of the Semipalmated Sandpiper.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Manuel Grosselet · MexicoCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is one of the most abundant shorebirds in North America, with migratory flocks at single stopover sites sometimes exceeding hundreds of thousands.
They possess specialized structures on their tongues to consume biofilm, a thin layer of diatoms and microbes found on mudflat surfaces.
The species exhibits significant sexual dimorphism in bill length, with females having longer bills to exploit different foraging niches than males.
They are high-latitude breeders, nesting almost exclusively in the tundra of western Alaska and the easternmost tip of Siberia.
During migration, they are capable of flying thousands of miles, traveling from Arctic breeding grounds to wintering sites as far south as Peru.

Habitat

Arctic tundra for breeding; coastal mudflats, estuaries, and sandy beaches during migration and winter.

Range

Breeds in Alaska and Siberia; winters along the Pacific and Atlantic coasts from the southern US to 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 Western Sandpiper?

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