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

Yellow-crowned Night-Heron

Nyctanassa violacea

A stocky, medium-sized heron characterized by its bold black-and-white facial pattern and specialized crustacean-focused diet.

What it sounds like

A sharp, high-pitched, nasal 'kowk' or 'quak', typically higher and more strident than the Black-crowned Night-Heron.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Albert Lastukhin · Costa RicaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

Possesses a uniquely thick, heavy bill specifically adapted for crushing the shells of crabs and crayfish.
Unlike the Black-crowned Night-Heron, this species is frequently active during the day, though it still forages at night.
Juveniles are brown with fine white spotting and can be distinguished from similar species by their longer legs and more upright stance.
The species name 'violacea' refers to the subtle, slate-blue or violet-gray cast of the adult's plumage.
They are known to nest in small colonies, sometimes selecting tall trees in suburban neighborhoods far from the immediate shoreline.

Habitat

Mangrove swamps, salt marshes, wooded stream banks, and coastal thickets.

Range

Coastal and inland waterways of the eastern/central United States, through the Caribbean and Central America to northern South America.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Bermuda Night HeronNyctanassa carcinocatactes Yellow-crowned Night HeronNyctanassa violacea

Heard a Yellow-crowned Night-Heron?

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