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

Augur Buzzard

Buteo augur

A large, polymorphic African raptor characterized by its broad wings and short, rufous tail, frequently seen perching in high-altitude landscapes.

What it sounds like

A loud, resonant, jackal-like yapping or barking, typically transcribed as 'a-kow-a-kow-a-kow'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:45

Rec. Andrew Spencer · EthiopiaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It occurs in two distinct plumage phases: a common pale morph and a rare, almost entirely black melanistic morph.
The species is named 'augur' after the ancient practice of interpreting its flight patterns as omens for the future.
Unlike many migratory Buteo species, the Augur Buzzard is largely sedentary and maintains its territory year-round.
It is a versatile hunter that utilizes a 'still-hunting' technique, scanning for reptiles and small mammals from utility poles or rocky outcrops.
Pairs are known for their spectacular aerial courtship displays, involving high-altitude circling and ritualized talon-grappling.

Habitat

Montane grasslands, hilly savannas, and rugged rocky outcrops ranging from sea level to 4,600 meters.

Range

Eastern and Southwestern Africa, primarily from Ethiopia and South Sudan down to Namibia and Zimbabwe.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterus Common BuzzardButeo buteo Eastern BuzzardButeo japonicus Ferruginous HawkButeo regalis Forest BuzzardButeo trizonatus Galapagos HawkButeo galapagoensis Gray HawkButeo plagiatus Gray-lined HawkButeo nitidus

Heard a Augur Buzzard?

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