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

Hooded Crane

Grus monacha

The Hooded Crane is a small, slate-grey crane distinguished by a stark white neck and a red crown patch. It is a vulnerable East Asian species known for its secretive breeding habits in remote taiga bogs.

What it sounds like

A high-pitched, penetrating, and resonant trumpeting 'kurrr-kurrr' or 'krou-krou'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Bo Shunqi薄顺奇 · ChinaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Approximately 80% of the entire global population winters at a single artificial feeding site in Izumi, Japan.
It is one of the smallest crane species in the world, typically standing only about 100 centimeters tall.
The red patch on the forehead is actually bare, highly vascularized skin rather than feathers.
Breeding pairs engage in complex 'unison calling,' a ritualized vocal and postural display used to defend territory and reinforce pair bonds.
Unlike many other cranes, this species often chooses to nest in isolated, forested peatlands and mossy bogs deep within the Siberian taiga.

Habitat

Remote forested wetlands and bogs for breeding; rice paddies, coastal marshes, and mudflats for wintering.

Range

Breeds in Southeastern Siberia and Northern China; winters primarily in Japan, South Korea, and East China.

Similar & commonly confused birds

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

Heard a Hooded Crane?

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