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

Ashy-faced Owl

Tyto glaucops

The Ashy-faced Owl is a medium-sized Tyto owl endemic to Hispaniola, characterized by its distinctive silvery-gray facial disk. It is a nocturnal predator that occupies a wide range of open and semi-open landscapes across the island.

What it sounds like

A series of rapid, clicking 'tsick-tsick-tsick' notes followed by a high-pitched, raspy, hissing scream.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Andrew Spencer · Dominican RepublicCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is the only member of the Tytonidae family strictly endemic to the island of Hispaniola.
The species is distinguished from the Common Barn Owl by its smaller size and darker, slate-gray facial disk.
It frequently nests in limestone sinkholes and caves, as well as in human-made structures and tree cavities.
Its diet is highly varied, including small mammals, lizards, frogs, and large insects.
Though it overlaps in range with the introduced Common Barn Owl, the Ashy-faced Owl generally prefers more wooded habitats.

Habitat

Open woodland, scrubland, agricultural areas, and urban peripheries.

Range

Endemic to Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic).

Similar & commonly confused birds

African Grass-OwlTyto capensis American Barn OwlTyto furcata Andaman Masked-OwlTyto deroepstorffi Australasian Grass-OwlTyto longimembris Australian Masked-OwlTyto novaehollandiae Barn OwlTyto alba Eastern Barn OwlTyto javanica Golden Masked-OwlTyto aurantia

Heard a Ashy-faced Owl?

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