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

Bearded Screech-Owl

Megascops barbarus

A small, elusive owl of high-altitude cloud forests, the Bearded Screech-Owl is distinguished by its petite size and subtle, often inconspicuous ear tufts.

What it sounds like

A rapid, staccato series of 3 to 5 soft, hollow whistles that may accelerate into a brief trill.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:58

Rec. Peter Boesman · GuatemalaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is among the smallest members of the Megascops genus, typically measuring only 16 to 20 centimeters in length.
The species occurs in two distinct color morphs: a common grayish-brown phase and a rarer, vibrant rufous phase.
Its common name stems from the prominent, beard-like bristles extending from the facial disc and chin area.
Despite being a screech-owl, its ear tufts are so reduced that it often appears round-headed in the field.
It is a specialized montane species, restricted almost exclusively to elevations between 1,350 and 2,500 meters.

Habitat

Humid montane cloud forests and dense pine-oak woodlands.

Range

The highlands of Chiapas, Mexico, and central to western Guatemala.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Balsas Screech-OwlMegascops seductus Bare-shanked Screech-OwlMegascops clarkii 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 Bearded Screech-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