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

Southern Nutcracker

Nucifraga hemispila

A large, dark-plumaged corvid with striking white spotting, specialized for life in high-altitude coniferous forests.

What it sounds like

A series of loud, harsh, and rhythmic grating notes, typically transcribed as 'krrak-krrak-krrak'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

No reference call found yet · Xeno-canto

Field notes

It was recently split from the Spotted Nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) based on distinct vocalizations and genetic divergence.
Equipped with a specialized sublingual pouch, it can carry dozens of pine seeds at a time to various caching sites.
The species acts as a primary seed disperser for several high-altitude pine species, ensuring forest regeneration through its forgotten caches.
Compared to its northern relatives, it features a darker chocolate-brown body and more extensive white spotting on the underparts.
Individuals are often observed using their powerful, dagger-like bills to pry open tough conifer cones to reach nutrient-dense seeds.

Habitat

Montane coniferous and mixed forests, particularly those containing pine, spruce, and fir.

Range

Himalayas to southern China and Taiwan.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Clark's NutcrackerNucifraga columbiana Kashmir NutcrackerNucifraga multipunctata Northern NutcrackerNucifraga caryocatactes

Heard a Southern Nutcracker?

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Identify a bird by its song