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 Snipe

Gallinago delicata

A stocky, well-camouflaged shorebird characterized by an exceptionally long, straight bill and a striped head. It is renowned for its erratic zig-zag flight and the haunting 'winnowing' sound produced during aerial displays.

What it sounds like

A harsh, dry 'scaap' when flushed, and a rhythmic, pulsating 'win-win-win' winnowing sound created by tail feathers during flight.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Dag Österlund · SwedenCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

The outer tail feathers are structurally unique, vibrating during high-speed dives to produce a hollow, whistling 'winnowing' sound.
Its bill tip is flexible and densely packed with sensory rhynchopatches, allowing it to detect and grasp prey deep in the mud by touch.
The eyes are set so far back on the head that the bird possesses nearly 360-degree vision, enabling it to see directly behind itself while probing.
To evade predators, it utilizes a signature rapid zig-zagging takeoff accompanied by a sharp, rasping alarm call.
It was historically considered the same species as the Common Snipe of Eurasia until taxonomic separation in 2003 based on morphology and vocalizations.

Habitat

Wet meadows, freshwater marshes, fens, bogs, and muddy edges of ponds or streams.

Range

Breeds across northern North America and the northern United States; winters from the southern U.S. to northern South America.

Similar & commonly confused birds

African SnipeGallinago nigripennis Common SnipeGallinago gallinago Fuegian SnipeGallinago stricklandii Giant SnipeGallinago undulata Great SnipeGallinago media Imperial SnipeGallinago imperialis Jameson's SnipeGallinago jamesoni Jameson's SnipeGallinago jamesoni

Heard a Wilson's Snipe?

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