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

Crowned Lapwing

Vanellus coronatus

The Crowned Lapwing is a conspicuous, ground-dwelling plover of African savannas, instantly recognizable by the distinctive black-and-white 'halo' on its crown. It is a highly vocal species known for its bold, territorial behavior in open, dry landscapes.

What it sounds like

A loud, piercing, and raucous 'kree-kree-kree-krep-krep-krep' often delivered during frantic aerial displays.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Marna Buys · South AfricaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Identified by a unique black cap encircled by a white ring, which is bordered by another black band.
Unlike many other lapwings, this species avoids wetlands, preferring dry, short-grass habitats and recently burnt veld.
Highly aggressive during the breeding season, they will fearlessly dive-bomb humans and large mammals to defend their nests.
Primarily nocturnal or crepuscular hunters, using their large eyes to locate termites, ants, and beetles in low-light conditions.
Their legs are a vivid reddish-pink, providing a sharp contrast to their otherwise cryptic sandy-brown plumage.

Habitat

Dry grasslands, short-grass savannas, overgrazed pastures, airfields, and burnt open woodland.

Range

Eastern and Southern Africa, ranging from Ethiopia and Somalia to the Western Cape of South Africa.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Andean LapwingVanellus resplendens Banded LapwingVanellus tricolor Black-headed LapwingVanellus tectus Black-winged LapwingVanellus melanopterus Blacksmith LapwingVanellus armatus Brown-chested LapwingVanellus superciliosus Gray-headed LapwingVanellus cinereus Javan LapwingVanellus macropterus

Heard a Crowned Lapwing?

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