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

Black-headed Heron

Ardea melanocephala

A large, striking heron of sub-Saharan Africa, distinguished by its jet-black crown and hindneck and its unusual preference for terrestrial hunting.

What it sounds like

A loud, harsh, and guttural 'kaark' or croak, most frequently heard when the bird is in flight or at the breeding colony.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 1:13

Rec. Peter Boesman · KenyaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

Unlike most herons, it is primarily a terrestrial hunter, frequently stalking prey in dry grasslands and agricultural fields far from water.
Its diet is exceptionally diverse, encompassing large insects, rodents, snakes, lizards, and even small birds like weavers.
It is a colonial nester, often forming large 'heronries' in tall trees, frequently situated in noisy urban areas or near villages.
When hunting, it employs a 'stand and wait' technique or a slow stalk, followed by a lightning-fast strike of its powerful bill.
In flight, it can be distinguished from the similar Grey Heron by its dark underwing coverts which contrast sharply with paler flight feathers.

Habitat

Open grasslands, moist savannas, pastures, and occasionally marshes or lake edges.

Range

Widespread throughout sub-Saharan Africa, with some populations being sedentary and others nomadic based on rainfall.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Cocoi HeronArdea cocoi Eastern Cattle-EgretArdea coromanda Goliath HeronArdea goliath Gray HeronArdea cinerea Great Blue HeronArdea herodias Great EgretArdea alba Great-billed HeronArdea sumatrana Humblot's HeronArdea humbloti

Heard a Black-headed 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