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

Cape Crow

Corvus capensis

The Cape Crow is a medium-sized, entirely black corvid distinguished by its remarkably long, slender, and slightly decurved bill. It is a social but often pair-oriented bird typically found in the open landscapes of Southern and Eastern Africa.

What it sounds like

A varied repertoire of liquid, bubbling, and rattling sounds, typically higher-pitched than most other crows.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 1:21

Rec. JJSUN · South AfricaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is the only completely black crow in its range, lacking the white plumage seen on the Pied Crow or White-necked Raven.
The species uses its specialized slender bill to probe the soil for insects, larvae, and bulbs.
They are known to engage in 'caching' behavior, hiding food items in the ground to be recovered later.
Cape Crows often serve as hosts for the Great Spotted Cuckoo, a brood parasite that lays its eggs in their nests.
During vocalization, they often perform a characteristic display involving bowing the head and ruffling the throat feathers.

Habitat

Open grasslands, moorlands, agricultural fields, and semi-arid shrublands.

Range

Disjunct populations across Southern Africa and East Africa (Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, and Kenya).

Similar & commonly confused birds

American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchos Australian RavenCorvus coronoides Banggai CrowCorvus unicolor Bismarck CrowCorvus insularis Bougainville CrowCorvus meeki Brown-headed CrowCorvus fuscicapillus Brown-necked RavenCorvus ruficollis Carrion CrowCorvus corone

Heard a Cape Crow?

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