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

Humblot's Heron

Ardea humbloti

Humblot's Heron is a large, slate-grey wading bird endemic to Madagascar, currently classified as Endangered due to its small population and habitat loss.

What it sounds like

A deep, guttural 'kraak' or resonant croak, lower in pitch than that of the Grey Heron.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Albert Lastukhin · MadagascarCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is distinguished from the similar Grey Heron by its significantly heavier, darker bill and overall sootier plumage.
The global population is extremely small, estimated at fewer than 1,500 mature individuals remaining in the wild.
Unlike many other herons, it is a solitary forager that exhibits extreme patience, standing motionless for long periods to ambush large fish.
Breeding typically occurs in mixed-species colonies, often sharing nesting trees with Great Egrets and African Spoonbills.
It is primarily restricted to the western coast of Madagascar, though vagrants are occasionally recorded in the Comoros, Mayotte, and even Aldabra.

Habitat

Coastal mangroves, shallow saline lagoons, brackish estuaries, and large inland freshwater lakes.

Range

Madagascar (primarily western and northern coasts).

Similar & commonly confused birds

Black-headed HeronArdea melanocephala Cocoi HeronArdea cocoi Eastern Cattle-EgretArdea coromanda Goliath HeronArdea goliath Gray HeronArdea cinerea Great Blue HeronArdea herodias Great EgretArdea alba Great-billed HeronArdea sumatrana

Heard a Humblot's Heron?

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