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

Austral Pygmy-Owl

Glaucidium nana

A small, pugnacious, and frequently diurnal owl of the southern temperate forests, known for its bold hunting style and distinctive nape markings.

What it sounds like

A rapid, rhythmic series of high-pitched, hollow 'tew' or 'hue' notes, often delivered at a rate of 2-4 per second.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:09

Rec. Marc Anderson · ChileCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

Possesses prominent 'ocelli' or false eye-spots on the back of the neck to deter predators and minimize mobbing intensity.
Highly aggressive for its size, capable of preying on birds and mammals significantly larger than itself.
Primarily diurnal and crepuscular, often seen actively hunting or perching in broad daylight.
A cavity nester that typically utilizes abandoned woodpecker holes in Nothofagus trees.
Commonly localized by observers through the intense mobbing behavior of small passerines like the Tufted Tit-tyrant.

Habitat

Temperate rainforests, deciduous woodlands, scrublands, and occasionally suburban gardens.

Range

Southern Chile and southwestern Argentina, ranging south to Tierra del Fuego.

Similar & commonly confused birds

African Barred OwletGlaucidium capense Albertine OwletGlaucidium albertinum Amazonian Pygmy-OwlGlaucidium hardyi Andean Pygmy-OwlGlaucidium jardinii Asian Barred OwletGlaucidium cuculoides Central American Pygmy-OwlGlaucidium griseiceps Chestnut-backed OwletGlaucidium castanotum Cloud-forest Pygmy-OwlGlaucidium nubicola

Heard a Austral Pygmy-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