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

Bank Cormorant

Phalacrocorax neglectus

A large, heavy-bodied marine cormorant endemic to the Benguela Upwelling system, characterized by its dark, bronzed plumage and sedentary nature.

What it sounds like

Generally silent at sea; at breeding colonies, it produces deep, raspy grunts and a croaking 'whee-ee-ee'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

No reference call found yet · Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is the largest cormorant species endemic to the southern African coastline.
Unlike most other cormorants, it rarely performs 'wing-drying' displays because its plumage is more waterproof.
The species is a specialist feeder, primarily hunting benthic prey such as West Coast rock lobsters and bearded gobies.
Nests are constructed almost entirely from seaweed and kelp, often cemented together with guano on rocky ledges.
The population has declined by over 50% in recent decades, leading to its classification as Endangered.

Habitat

Rocky offshore islands and coastal kelp forests.

Range

The southwestern coast of Africa, ranging from Namibia to the Western Cape of South Africa.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Black-faced CormorantPhalacrocorax fuscescens Cape CormorantPhalacrocorax capensis Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo Indian CormorantPhalacrocorax fuscicollis Indian CormorantPhalacrocorax fuscicollis Japanese CormorantPhalacrocorax capillatus Little Black CormorantPhalacrocorax sulcirostris Pied CormorantPhalacrocorax varius

Heard a Bank Cormorant?

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