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

Wilson's Phalarope

Phalaropus tricolor

The Wilson's Phalarope is a unique shorebird characterized by reversed sexual dimorphism and a distinctive spinning foraging behavior.

What it sounds like

Low-pitched, soft, nasal grunts or muffled 'angk' sounds.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Aluisio Ribeiro · BrazilCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Females are more brightly colored and larger than males, taking the lead in courtship and territorial defense.
The species is polyandrous; females may mate with multiple males who then perform all incubation and chick-rearing duties.
To feed, they swim in tight circles to create a vortex that brings aquatic invertebrates to the surface.
Unlike other phalaropes, this species is primarily terrestrial during migration and winters on hypersaline lakes in South America.
It is the largest of the three phalarope species and lacks the lobed toes found in its more oceanic relatives.

Habitat

Shallow alkaline lakes, prairie potholes, and inland marshes.

Range

Breeds in western North America; migrates to the Andes and pampas of South America.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Red PhalaropePhalaropus fulicarius Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatus

Heard a Wilson's Phalarope?

Open Birdsong, tap record, and identify the bird singing near you in seconds — then collect it in your field journal.

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