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-necked Crane

Grus nigricollis

The Black-necked Crane is a high-altitude specialist distinguished by its silver-gray plumage, black neck, and a vibrant red crown patch.

What it sounds like

A loud, high-pitched, penetrating trumpeting call, often delivered as a synchronized 'kur-lu, kur-lu' during unison displays.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:11

Rec. Hillary Strasser · BhutanCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is the only crane species in the world that breeds and lives almost exclusively at high altitudes on the Tibetan Plateau.
This was the last of the world's 15 crane species to be scientifically described, first documented by naturalists in 1876.
The species is deeply revered in Tibetan Buddhism as a symbol of peace and is legally protected as a Class I species in China.
To survive the hypoxic conditions of the Himalayas, these cranes have specialized lung physiology for efficient oxygen uptake at 4,900 meters.
They are opportunistic feeders, consuming everything from plant tubers and grain to insects, frogs, and small fish found in alpine wetlands.

Habitat

High-altitude marshes, lakeside wetlands, and alpine meadows; transitions to agricultural valleys during winter.

Range

Primarily the Tibetan Plateau in China, with smaller wintering populations in Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh, India.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Blue CraneGrus paradiseus Common CraneGrus grus Demoiselle CraneGrus virgo Hooded CraneGrus monacha Red-crowned CraneGrus japonensis Wattled CraneGrus carunculatus Whooping CraneGrus americana

Heard a Black-necked Crane?

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