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

Bermuda Night Heron

Nyctanassa carcinocatactes

The Bermuda Night Heron was a robust, extinct heron endemic to Bermuda, characterized by a massive bill specialized for crushing land crabs. It vanished shortly after human settlement in the 17th century and is known primarily from subfossil remains.

What it sounds like

Unknown, but likely a harsh, guttural 'qwawk' or barking 'woc' similar to other Nyctanassa species.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

No reference call found yet · Xeno-canto

Field notes

It was formally described as a distinct species in 2006 based on skeletal remains found in cave deposits and peat bogs.
The species evolved a significantly heavier and more powerful bill than the extant Yellow-crowned Night Heron to handle large crustaceans.
Its primary prey was likely the Bermuda land crab (Cardisoma guanhumi), which faced fewer predators after the heron's extinction.
The bird likely became extinct due to a combination of hunting by early mariners and predation by introduced pigs and rats.
In the 1970s, Yellow-crowned Night Herons were introduced to Bermuda to fill the ecological niche left vacant by this species' extinction.

Habitat

Coastal mangroves, salt marshes, and inland limestone sinkholes.

Range

Bermuda (Endemic)

Similar & commonly confused birds

Yellow-crowned Night HeronNyctanassa violacea Yellow-crowned Night-HeronNyctanassa violacea

Heard a Bermuda Night Heron?

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