Songbirds are an established animal model for investigating sensorimotor integration, vocal learning, and motor control. Birdsong arises from the interaction of multiple neural nuclei with the respiratory system and the vocal organ. These systems coordinate to produce precise biomechanical gestures that give rise to vocal behavior. Telencephalic nuclei play a central role in generating motor commands that control the periphery, making the recording of neural activity during song production and processing of particular interest. In this work, we present the development, construction, and characterization of a neural recording system for electrocorticography (ECoG) in small birds. ECoG enables the recording of cortical electrical activity with high temporal resolution and a superior signal-to-noise ratio compared with extracranial approaches such as electroencephalography (EEG). These signals are captured at the population level, reflecting the integrated activity of multiple units. Specifically, we designed a four- channel voltage follower circuit and a differential amplifier circuit to compare and evaluate the minimum requirements for such a system. The resulting circuits are lightweight and compact, making them well suited for use in small animals. This development is broadly applicable across small animal models and provides a versatile tool for future neurophysiological research.