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

Alor Boobook

Ninox plesseni

A small, secretive owl endemic to the island of Alor, recently elevated to species status based on distinct vocalizations and genetic data.

What it sounds like

A rhythmic, double-note 'bu-wook' or 'pk-wok' with a slight emphasis on the first syllable.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:46

Rec. Stijn Cooleman · IndonesiaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It was formerly classified as a subspecies of the Southern Boobook before being split in 2017.
The plumage is characterized by a warm rufous-brown coloration with distinctive white spotting on the scapulars.
It is a sedentary species with a very restricted global range of approximately 2,800 square kilometers.
Like other 'hawk-owls' in the genus Ninox, it lacks a well-defined facial disk and has a more hawk-like profile.
Its population is currently under pressure from habitat fragmentation and conversion of lowland forests to agriculture.

Habitat

Tropical moist lowland forest, secondary growth, and wooded agricultural areas from sea level to mid-elevations.

Range

Alor Island, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Andaman BoobookNinox affinis Australian BoobookNinox boobook Barking OwlNinox connivens Bismarck BoobookNinox variegata Brown BoobookNinox scutulata Buru BoobookNinox hantu Camiguin BoobookNinox leventisi Cebu BoobookNinox rumseyi

Heard a Alor Boobook?

Open Birdsong, tap record, and identify the bird singing near you in seconds — then collect it in your field journal.

Identify a bird by its song