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

Little Black Cormorant

Phalacrocorax sulcirostris

The Little Black Cormorant is a slender, entirely black waterbird known for its highly social behavior and efficient communal hunting techniques. It is distinguished from other cormorants by its uniform dark plumage and lack of a yellow throat pouch.

What it sounds like

Generally silent when foraging, but produces various guttural grunts, croaks, and soft hissing sounds at nesting colonies.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. James Lambert · AustraliaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

Engages in highly coordinated 'pack hunting,' where large flocks work together to herd schools of fish into shallow water or towards the surface.
Lacks a traditional brood patch; instead, it incubates eggs by resting them on its highly vascularized webbed feet to transfer body heat.
Possesses feathers that are only semi-permeable to water, which reduces buoyancy and allows the bird to dive more deeply and rapidly.
Frequently observed in a characteristic 'wing-drying' pose, perched with wings outstretched to evaporate water from its non-waterproof plumage.
During the breeding season, adults develop subtle, temporary white flecks or 'nuptial plumes' around the eyes and on the neck.

Habitat

Primarily freshwater lakes, rivers, and wetlands, but also frequents sheltered coastal estuaries and mangroves.

Range

Widespread throughout Australia, New Guinea, New Zealand, and parts of Indonesia.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Bank CormorantPhalacrocorax neglectus Black-faced CormorantPhalacrocorax fuscescens Cape CormorantPhalacrocorax capensis Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo Indian CormorantPhalacrocorax fuscicollis Indian CormorantPhalacrocorax fuscicollis Japanese CormorantPhalacrocorax capillatus Pied CormorantPhalacrocorax varius

Heard a Little Black Cormorant?

Open Birdsong, tap record, and identify the bird singing near you in seconds — then collect it in your field journal.

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