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

Common Crane

Grus grus

A large, stately wading bird with slate-grey plumage, a black-and-white neck pattern, and a distinctive red crown patch.

What it sounds like

A loud, penetrating, trumpet-like 'kurooo' or bugling sound often performed as a resonant unison duet by pairs.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:23

Rec. bert de bruin · NorwayCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Common Cranes engage in complex, synchronized dancing rituals involving bowing and jumping to strengthen social and pair bonds.
They possess a specialized, elongated trachea coiled within the sternum, which amplifies their calls to be heard over several kilometers.
Nesting birds often smear their feathers with iron-rich mud to provide better camouflage against boggy environments.
They are powerful fliers capable of reaching altitudes of up to 10,000 meters during migration, occasionally crossing the Himalayas.
Strictly monogamous and typically mating for life, they are revered in many cultures as symbols of longevity and fidelity.

Habitat

Breeds in remote wetlands, marshes, and peat bogs; winters in open farmlands, grasslands, and shallow lagoons.

Range

Breeds across Northern Europe and the Palearctic; migrates to Southern Europe, North Africa, and South Asia.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Black-necked CraneGrus nigricollis Blue CraneGrus paradiseus Demoiselle CraneGrus virgo Hooded CraneGrus monacha Red-crowned CraneGrus japonensis Wattled CraneGrus carunculatus Whooping CraneGrus americana

Heard a Common 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