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 with a distinctive black head and pale yellow crown, known for its specialized diet of crustaceans.

What it sounds like

A sharp, high-pitched nasal 'qwock' 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

Specializes in eating crabs and crayfish, earning it the nickname 'crab eater' in some regions.
Possesses a thicker, heavier bill than the Black-crowned Night Heron, specifically adapted for crushing hard shells.
Juveniles possess a brown-streaked plumage that provides camouflage in marshy environments for up to three years.
Though primarily nocturnal or crepuscular, they are frequently observed foraging during daylight hours depending on tidal cycles.
They are more solitary nesters than many other herons, often choosing sites in suburban trees away from large rookeries.

Habitat

Coastal salt marshes, mangroves, swamps, and wooded wetlands, often near brackish or salt water.

Range

Eastern and central United States south 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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