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

Red-faced Cormorant

Urile urile

A medium-sized marine bird distinguished by its vibrant red facial skin and dark, iridescent plumage, specialized for subarctic rocky coastlines.

What it sounds like

Generally silent, but emits low, guttural croaks and raspy grunts at nesting colonies.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Andrew Spencer · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Displays brilliant turquoise-blue eyes surrounded by unfeathered, bright red facial skin during the breeding season.
Unlike many other cormorant species, they rarely engage in 'wing-spreading' behavior to dry their plumage.
Constructs nests on extremely narrow, vertical sea-cliff ledges using seaweed, grass, and guano.
The species is strictly marine and is almost never found in freshwater or inland environments.
Distinguishable from the similar Pelagic Cormorant by its thicker bill and the lack of white flank patches during breeding.

Habitat

Rugged sea cliffs and cold, offshore coastal waters.

Range

North Pacific Rim, ranging from the Aleutian Islands and Bering Sea to the Kuril Islands.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Brandt's CormorantUrile penicillatus Pallas's CormorantUrile perspicillatus Pallas's CormorantUrile perspicillatus Pelagic CormorantUrile pelagicus

Heard a Red-faced 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