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

Neotropic Cormorant

Nannopterum brasilianum

A slender, medium-sized waterbird of the Americas known for its long tail and characteristic wing-spreading posture.

What it sounds like

Low, guttural grunts and croaks that often resemble the sound of a pig oinking.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:03

Rec. JAYRSON ARAUJO DE OLIVEIRA · BrazilCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is the only cormorant species known to occasionally plunge-dive for prey from flight.
During the breeding season, adults develop a distinctive white V-shaped border at the base of the throat pouch.
They frequently engage in coordinated 'social fishing,' where groups drive schools of fish into shallow water.
Distinguishable from the similar Double-crested Cormorant by its smaller size and more pointed gular skin patch.
They are remarkably adaptable, found in environments ranging from high-altitude Andean lakes to coastal mangroves.

Habitat

Freshwater lakes, slow-moving rivers, marshes, and coastal estuaries.

Range

Southern United States through Central and South America to Tierra del Fuego.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Double-crested CormorantNannopterum auritum Flightless CormorantNannopterum harrisi

Heard a Neotropic Cormorant?

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