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

Barking Owl

Ninox connivens

A medium-sized, robust hawk-owl of Australia and New Guinea, recognized by its piercing yellow eyes and lack of a distinct facial disc. It is renowned for its remarkable vocalizations that closely mimic the sound of a barking dog.

What it sounds like

An explosive, double-note 'wook-wook' resembling a small dog's bark, and a rare, harrowing, high-pitched shriek.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:55

Rec. Hank Bower · AustraliaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Famous for its 'screaming woman' call, a high-pitched, blood-curdling alarm cry used during the breeding season.
Functions as an apex predator in its niche, capable of taking down large prey such as rabbits, ducks, and magpies.
Lacks the soft, serrated wing feathers of most owls, making its flight audible rather than silent.
Pairs are highly territorial and monogamous, often staying in the same nesting hollow for many successive years.
Unlike the similar Southern Boobook, it has a more hawk-like appearance with a streaked rather than spotted breast.

Habitat

Open woodlands, savanna, and riparian forests near watercourses.

Range

Mainland Australia (excluding the arid interior), New Guinea, and the North Moluccas.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Alor BoobookNinox plesseni Andaman BoobookNinox affinis Australian BoobookNinox boobook Bismarck BoobookNinox variegata Brown BoobookNinox scutulata Buru BoobookNinox hantu Camiguin BoobookNinox leventisi Cebu BoobookNinox rumseyi

Heard a Barking 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