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 Wagtail

Motacilla alba

A slender, high-contrast passerine easily recognized by its constant tail-bobbing behavior and bold black, white, and grey plumage.

What it sounds like

A sharp, high-pitched, two-syllable 'chis-ick' or 'tsli-vitt' given frequently during flight.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:46

Rec. Ding Li Yong · JapanCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

Continuously pumps its long tail up and down, a movement thought to signal predator awareness or flush out insect prey.
Highly adaptable nester that utilizes tree hollows, cliff crevices, and man-made structures like bridges, walls, or even idle machinery.
The species complex includes several subspecies, notably the 'Pied Wagtail' (M. a. yarrellii) of the British Isles, which has a darker mantle.
During winter months, they often form large communal roosts in reedbeds or urban trees to maintain body temperature through huddling.
Exhibits a distinctive undulating flight pattern, consisting of rapid bursts of wingbeats followed by short glides with wings pulled to the body.

Habitat

Open country, riverbanks, farmland, and urban environments, typically favoring areas near water or paved surfaces.

Range

Widespread across Europe and Asia, extending into North Africa and occasionally Alaska; migratory populations winter in Africa and South Asia.

Similar & commonly confused birds

African Pied WagtailMotacilla aguimp Cape WagtailMotacilla capensis Citrine WagtailMotacilla citreola Eastern Yellow WagtailMotacilla tschutschensis Gray WagtailMotacilla cinerea Japanese WagtailMotacilla grandis Japanese WagtailMotacilla grandis Madagascar WagtailMotacilla flaviventris

Heard a White Wagtail?

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