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

Anjouan Scops-Owl

Otus capnodes

The Anjouan Scops-Owl is a critically endangered, polymorphic owl endemic to a single island in the Comoros archipelago.

What it sounds like

A clear, mournful whistling 'hooo' or 'whuu' repeated at regular intervals of several seconds.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / --:--

Rec. Ross Gallardy · ComorosCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

The species was feared extinct for over a century before being rediscovered in 1992.
It exists in two distinct color morphs: a dark chocolate-brown and a lighter, more rufous-brown.
The total population is estimated at fewer than 400 individuals confined to fragmented forest patches.
It possesses very small, often inconspicuous ear tufts compared to other members of the genus Otus.
Deforestation for cloves and other agriculture has restricted its range to less than 50 square kilometers of suitable habitat.

Habitat

Humid, primary montane forest with large, old-growth trees providing nesting cavities.

Range

The island of Anjouan (Ndzuani) in the Comoros.

Similar & commonly confused birds

African Scops-OwlOtus senegalensis Andaman Scops-OwlOtus balli 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 Anjouan Scops-Owl?

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