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

White-faced Ibis

Plegadis chihi

A medium-sized wading bird characterized by its deep iridescent maroon plumage and a thin band of white feathers surrounding its pink facial skin during the breeding season.

What it sounds like

A series of low-pitched, nasal, pig-like grunts and croaks.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Franco Vushurovich · ArgentinaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Distinguishable from the nearly identical Glossy Ibis by its red irises and the white border encircling the eye and chin.
It employs a specialized sensory-rich, decurved bill to probe deep into mud for crayfish, frogs, and aquatic insects.
Nesting occurs in large, noisy colonies often situated in dense emergent vegetation like bulrushes or cattails.
Since the mid-20th century, the species has undergone a significant range expansion across the western United States.
The namesake white 'face' is a seasonal ornament that disappears after the breeding period, leaving the bird with duller facial skin.

Habitat

Freshwater marshes, flooded agricultural fields, and shallow wetlands.

Range

Breeds primarily in the western United States; winters south through Mexico and Central America, with disjunct populations in southern South America.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellus Puna IbisPlegadis ridgwayi Puna IbisPlegadis ridgwayi

Heard a White-faced Ibis?

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