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

Double-crested Cormorant

Nannopterum auritum

A large, dark-plumaged waterbird frequently seen perched with wings spread wide to dry after deep-diving for fish.

What it sounds like

Low, guttural grunts and croaks, often described as sounding pig-like.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 1:07

Rec. CHRIS DRYSDALE · CanadaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Possesses less preen oil than other waterbirds, allowing feathers to become waterlogged to reduce buoyancy for deeper diving.
The 'double crest' refers to two small tufts of white or black feathers that appear on the head only during the peak breeding season.
During the breeding season, adults develop striking turquoise-blue eyes and a vivid blue lining inside their mouths used in displays.
They are highly skilled underwater hunters, using their hook-tipped bills to capture a wide variety of fish species.
Commonly nests in massive, noisy colonies known as rookeries, often situated in trees or on rocky cliffs.

Habitat

Lakes, rivers, swamps, coastal bays, and estuaries.

Range

Widespread across North America, from southern Alaska and Canada to Mexico and the Caribbean.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Flightless CormorantNannopterum harrisi Neotropic CormorantNannopterum brasilianum

Heard a Double-crested Cormorant?

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