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 Crow

Corvus cornix

The Hooded Crow is a striking, highly intelligent corvid characterized by its distinctive two-toned grey and black plumage.

What it sounds like

A harsh, repeated, and sonorous 'kraa-kraa-kraa', typically more resonant than that of the closely related Carrion Crow.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:03

Rec. PinkJackdawn · DenmarkCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Formerly classified as a subspecies of the Carrion Crow, it is now recognized as a distinct species despite forming a narrow hybrid zone in Central Europe.
It exhibits advanced problem-solving skills and has been observed using 'bait-fishing' techniques, dropping bread into water to lure fish.
The species is known to drop hard-shelled prey like mollusks or nuts from heights onto paved roads or rocks to break them open.
Unlike many birds, Hooded Crows are capable of recognizing individual human faces and can communicate perceived threats to other members of their flock.
They are opportunistic scavengers that frequently follow apex predators like wolves to feed on leftover carcass remains.

Habitat

Open woodland, coastal cliffs, agricultural farmland, and increasingly common in urban parks and gardens.

Range

Northern, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe, extending through the Middle East and parts of Northeast Africa.

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 Cape CrowCorvus capensis

Heard a Hooded Crow?

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