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

Japanese Cormorant

Phalacrocorax capillatus

A large, dark marine waterbird of East Asia, historically significant for its role in traditional 'ukai' fishing.

What it sounds like

Low, guttural grunts and rasping croaks, generally silent away from breeding colonies.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Albert Lastukhin · Russian FederationCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is the primary species used in traditional Japanese 'ukai' fishing due to its size and strength.
Unlike the similar Great Cormorant, it is almost strictly a marine species that avoids inland freshwater.
Breeding adults develop white filoplumes on the head and neck, giving them a frosted appearance.
It possesses a yellow gular pouch with a distinctively pointed posterior edge compared to other cormorants.
Nesting typically occurs on narrow ledges of steep coastal cliffs to avoid land-based predators.

Habitat

Rocky coastal shores, cliffs, and marine environments.

Range

Coastal East Asia, including Japan, Korea, China, and the Russian Far East.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Bank CormorantPhalacrocorax neglectus Black-faced CormorantPhalacrocorax fuscescens Cape CormorantPhalacrocorax capensis Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo Indian CormorantPhalacrocorax fuscicollis Indian CormorantPhalacrocorax fuscicollis Little Black CormorantPhalacrocorax sulcirostris Pied CormorantPhalacrocorax varius

Heard a Japanese Cormorant?

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