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

Yellow Bittern

Botaurus sinensis

A small, secretive member of the heron family primarily found in Asian wetlands, known for its cryptic straw-colored plumage and stealthy behavior.

What it sounds like

A repetitive, low-pitched 'kark-kark-kark' or a soft, rhythmic croaking usually heard during the breeding season.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

No reference call found yet · Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is one of the smallest herons in the world, measuring only 30 to 40 centimeters in length.
When threatened, it adopts a 'freeze' posture, stretching its neck vertically to mimic the surrounding reeds and tall grasses.
Unlike many other herons, it has distinctive black flight feathers that create a sharp contrast against its buff-yellow body when in flight.
It is a solitary hunter that predominantly stalks small fish, crustaceans, and insects within dense aquatic vegetation.
During the breeding season, males may exhibit a temporary pinkish-red flush on their facial skin and legs.

Habitat

Freshwater wetlands, reed beds, mangroves, and flooded rice paddies.

Range

Widespread across South, East, and Southeast Asia, with northern populations migrating to Indonesia and New Guinea.

Similar & commonly confused birds

American BitternBotaurus lentiginosus Australasian BitternBotaurus poiciloptilus Black BitternBotaurus flavicollis Black-backed BitternBotaurus dubius Cinnamon BitternBotaurus cinnamomeus Dwarf BitternBotaurus sturmii Eurasian BitternBotaurus stellaris Great BitternBotaurus stellaris

Heard a Yellow Bittern?

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