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

Barn Owl

Tyto alba

A pale, ghost-like nocturnal raptor distinguished by its heart-shaped white facial disk and long, feathered legs. It is an exceptional predator that relies on highly developed hearing to hunt small mammals in near-total darkness.

What it sounds like

A harsh, drawn-out, raspy screech and various clicking or hissing sounds.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. David Tattersley · United KingdomCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

The heart-shaped facial disk acts like a satellite dish, funneling sound directly to its ears.
Their ears are placed asymmetrically on their head, allowing them to triangulate the exact vertical and horizontal position of prey.
Barn owls possess specialized serrations on the leading edges of their primary feathers that enable near-silent flight.
Unlike most owl species, Barn Owls do not hoot; they communicate through a series of eerie, raspy screeches and hisses.
A single family of Barn Owls can consume over 3,000 rodents during one nesting season, making them vital for natural pest control.

Habitat

Open countryside, grasslands, marshes, and agricultural fields; nests in hollow trees, caves, and man-made structures like barns and silos.

Range

Global distribution; found on every continent except Antarctica.

Similar & commonly confused birds

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

Heard a Barn 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