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

Balsas Screech-Owl

Megascops seductus

A large, nocturnal owl endemic to the dry drainage basins of western Mexico, distinguished by its subtle ear tufts and preference for arid thorn forests.

What it sounds like

A series of 6 to 15 low-pitched, hollow 'hoo' notes that accelerate slightly in a 'bouncing ball' rhythm.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Alán Palacios · MexicoCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is one of the larger members of the Megascops genus, reaching lengths of up to 27 centimeters.
Unlike many other screech-owls, this species typically possesses dark brown or hazel eyes rather than bright yellow ones.
It was historically treated as a subspecies of either the Western Screech-Owl or the Whiskered Screech-Owl before being elevated to species rank.
The owl is a secondary cavity nester, often utilizing old woodpecker holes in large columnar cacti or tropical deciduous trees.
Its plumage features heavy dark streaks and fine vermiculations that provide near-perfect camouflage against the bark of thorn-scrub vegetation.

Habitat

Arid tropical scrub, thorn forests, and tropical deciduous forests, often near columnar cacti.

Range

Endemic to the Balsas River drainage in southwestern Mexico, spanning states like Michoacán, Guerrero, and Morelos.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Bare-shanked Screech-OwlMegascops clarkii Bearded Screech-OwlMegascops barbarus Black-capped Screech-OwlMegascops atricapilla Choco Screech-OwlMegascops centralis Cinnamon Screech-OwlMegascops petersoni Cloud-forest Screech-OwlMegascops marshalli Eastern Screech-OwlMegascops asio Foothill Screech-OwlMegascops roraimae

Heard a Balsas Screech-Owl?

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