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

Amazonian Pygmy-Owl

Glaucidium hardyi

A diminutive, canopy-dwelling owl of the Amazon Basin, recognized for its daytime activity and distinctive 'false eyes' on its nape.

What it sounds like

A rapid, high-pitched series of 10–30 short, hollow whistles that accelerate slightly, sounding like 'hu-hu-hu-hu-hu'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 1:03

Rec. Richard E. Webster · PeruCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is one of the smallest owls in the world, typically measuring only 14 to 15 centimeters in total length.
The species possesses prominent black 'ocelli' on the back of its head, which mimic eyes to deter predators and confuse mobbing songbirds.
First formally described by science in 1989, it was long overlooked due to its habitat in the high rainforest canopy.
Unlike many owls, it is primarily diurnal and crepuscular, often seen perched and hunting during the heat of the day.
Despite its tiny size, it is a formidable predator capable of taking down large insects and small vertebrates like lizards.

Habitat

Humid lowland rainforest, specifically restricted to the canopy and sub-canopy layers.

Range

Amazon Basin of South America, spanning Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, and the Guianas.

Similar & commonly confused birds

African Barred OwletGlaucidium capense Albertine OwletGlaucidium albertinum 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 Amazonian Pygmy-Owl?

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Identify a bird by its song