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

African Barred Owlet

Glaucidium capense

A small, robust owl characterized by its lack of ear tufts and distinctive horizontal barring across its head, breast, and mantle.

What it sounds like

A series of high-pitched, purring whistles 'kruu-kruu-kruu' that gradually accelerate into a staccato trill.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Marna Buys · NamibiaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Possesses 'false eyes' (ocelli) on the back of its head to deceive potential predators and mobbing songbirds.
Though primarily nocturnal, it is frequently active during the day and can be seen hunting in overcast conditions.
An exceptionally bold predator for its size, often taking prey as large as itself, including small birds and squirrels.
It is a secondary cavity nester, typically occupying old holes created by woodpeckers or barbets.
When threatened, it adopts a 'concealing' posture, elongating its body to mimic a broken tree branch.

Habitat

Riverine forest, woodland, and dense thickets, often preferring areas with large trees.

Range

Eastern and Southern Africa, ranging from Kenya and Tanzania to South Africa.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Albertine OwletGlaucidium albertinum Amazonian Pygmy-OwlGlaucidium hardyi Andean Pygmy-OwlGlaucidium jardinii Asian Barred OwletGlaucidium cuculoides Austral Pygmy-OwlGlaucidium nana Central American Pygmy-OwlGlaucidium griseiceps Chestnut-backed OwletGlaucidium castanotum Cloud-forest Pygmy-OwlGlaucidium nubicola

Heard a African Barred Owlet?

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