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

Whimbrel

Numenius phaeopus

The Whimbrel is a large, holarctic shorebird distinguished by its long, down-curved bill and bold dark stripes on its crown. It is one of the most widely distributed curlew species, famous for its incredible long-distance migrations.

What it sounds like

A rapid, rhythmic series of 5 to 7 even, high-pitched whistling 'ti-ti-ti-ti-ti-ti' notes.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Mark James Pearson · United KingdomCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Their decurved bills are specialized for reaching into deep burrows to extract fiddler crabs and other crustaceans.
Whimbrels are capable of massive non-stop flights; some tracked individuals have flown over 4,000 miles across the ocean in one leg of migration.
Unlike many shorebirds, they frequently forage for berries, such as crowberries and blueberries, while on their northern breeding grounds.
They exhibit high site fidelity, often returning to the exact same nesting territory and wintering mudflat for several consecutive years.
Adults use a 'broken-wing' distraction display to lure potential predators away from their well-camouflaged ground nests.

Habitat

Arctic and subarctic tundra for breeding; coastal mudflats, estuaries, mangroves, and sandy beaches during the non-breeding season.

Range

Global distribution; breeds across the Arctic circles of North America and Eurasia, wintering on coasts throughout the Southern Hemisphere and lower latitudes.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Bristle-thighed CurlewNumenius tahitiensis Eskimo CurlewNumenius borealis Eurasian CurlewNumenius arquata Eurasian WhimbrelNumenius phaeopus Far Eastern CurlewNumenius madagascariensis Hudsonian WhimbrelNumenius hudsonicus Little CurlewNumenius minutus Long-billed CurlewNumenius americanus

Heard a Whimbrel?

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