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

Pied Cormorant

Phalacrocorax varius

The Pied Cormorant is a large, black-and-white waterbird characterized by its bright yellow facial skin and striking blue eye-ring. It is frequently observed perched with wings spread wide to dry after deep-diving for fish.

What it sounds like

Generally silent at sea; at nesting sites, adults produce a variety of guttural grunts, harsh croaks, and rhythmic hissing.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:14

Rec. Nick Talbot · AustraliaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Features a prominent yellow-orange patch of bare skin, known as a lore, located between the bill and the eye.
Unlike many waterbirds, its plumage is not fully waterproof, which reduces buoyancy and allows for more efficient deep diving.
Capable of reaching impressive depths of up to 20 meters while foraging for benthic fish and crustaceans.
In New Zealand, the species is known by its Māori name, Karuhiruhi.
Nests in large colonies, often building bulky stick platforms in the high branches of mangroves or on coastal cliffs.

Habitat

Coastal waters, sheltered inlets, mangroves, and large inland lakes or estuaries.

Range

Australasia, specifically found throughout mainland Australia and New Zealand.

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 Little Black CormorantPhalacrocorax sulcirostris

Heard a Pied 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