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

Sandhill Crane

Antigone canadensis

A tall, elegant wading bird distinguished by its gray plumage, crimson forehead, and haunting, prehistoric bugle calls. They are renowned for their elaborate social dances and massive migratory congregations.

What it sounds like

A loud, guttural, rattling bugle or 'kar-r-r-o-o-o' that carries for several miles.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:39

Rec. Scott Olmstead · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Fossil records suggest Sandhill Cranes have remained biologically unchanged for over 2.5 million years.
They engage in complex courtship dances involving leaping, bowing, wing-flapping, and tossing tufts of grass.
Their gray feathers often appear rusty-brown because they preen iron-rich mud into their plumage for camouflage.
The crane's loud, rattling call is amplified by a long, coiled trachea that resonates inside the breastbone like a trumpet.
They typically mate for life, maintaining pair bonds through synchronized vocalizations known as 'unison calling'.

Habitat

Open wetlands, marshes, wet meadows, and agricultural grain fields.

Range

North America, breeding from Alaska and Canada to the Great Lakes, with wintering grounds in the southern US and Mexico.

Similar & commonly confused birds

BrolgaAntigone rubicunda Sarus CraneAntigone antigone White-naped CraneAntigone vipio

Heard a Sandhill Crane?

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Identify a bird by its song