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

Andaman Scops-Owl

Otus balli

The Andaman Scops-Owl is a small, nocturnal raptor endemic to the Andaman Islands, distinguished by its lack of prominent ear tufts and polymorphic plumage.

What it sounds like

A rhythmic series of low-pitched, slightly raspy 'kwooo-kwooo' or 'wark-wark' notes.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:19

Rec. Lim Ying Hien · IndiaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is a monotypic species, meaning it has no recognized subspecies throughout its limited island range.
The species exhibits two distinct color morphs: a rufous-brown form and a more mottled greyish-brown form.
Its diet is predominantly insectivorous, focusing on large beetles, caterpillars, and grasshoppers caught in the sub-canopy.
Unlike most of its congeners, its ear tufts are exceptionally short and frequently held flat, giving the head a distinctly rounded profile.
It is currently classified as Near Threatened due to its small, restricted population and ongoing habitat loss from urban expansion.

Habitat

Lowland evergreen forests, mangroves, and anthropogenically modified landscapes like gardens and orchards.

Range

Endemic to the Andaman Islands in the Bay of Bengal, India.

Similar & commonly confused birds

African Scops-OwlOtus senegalensis Anjouan Scops-OwlOtus capnodes Arabian Scops-OwlOtus pamelae Banggai Scops-OwlOtus mendeni Biak Scops-OwlOtus beccarii Collared Scops-OwlOtus lettia Comoro Scops-OwlOtus pauliani Cyprus Scops-OwlOtus cyprius

Heard a Andaman Scops-Owl?

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Identify a bird by its song