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

Australian Masked-Owl

Tyto novaehollandiae

The Australian Masked-Owl is a large, elusive nocturnal predator distinguished by its prominent heart-shaped facial disk and fully feathered legs. It is the largest member of the Tyto genus in Australia, specialized for hunting in diverse woodland environments.

What it sounds like

A loud, deep, and rasping screech, often described as a 'shriek' that is significantly more powerful and guttural than that of the Barn Owl.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 1:31

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

Field notes

It is the second largest owl species in Australia, with females being significantly heavier and darker than males.
Unlike the Barn Owl, its legs are feathered all the way down to the base of the toes to provide protection and warmth.
The species possesses exceptionally large, powerful feet and talons used to dispatch prey as large as rabbits and possums.
Masked-Owls are strictly nocturnal and spend their days roosting in deep tree hollows, caves, or dense canopy foliage.
There are several distinct subspecies, with the Tasmanian variant (T. n. castanops) being the largest of all.

Habitat

Open eucalypt forests, woodlands, and timbered watercourses, requiring large, old-growth tree hollows for breeding.

Range

Coastal and sub-coastal regions of mainland Australia, Tasmania, and parts of southern New Guinea.

Similar & commonly confused birds

African Grass-OwlTyto capensis American Barn OwlTyto furcata Andaman Masked-OwlTyto deroepstorffi Ashy-faced OwlTyto glaucops Australasian Grass-OwlTyto longimembris Barn OwlTyto alba Eastern Barn OwlTyto javanica Golden Masked-OwlTyto aurantia

Heard a Australian Masked-Owl?

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