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

Bismarck Boobook

Ninox variegata

The Bismarck Boobook is a small, forest-dwelling hawk-owl endemic to the Bismarck Archipelago, characterized by its intricately barred plumage and bright yellow eyes.

What it sounds like

A rhythmic, low-pitched double hoot, typically rendered as 'who-who' or 'who-wuk,' sometimes followed by a series of growls.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Phil Gregory · Papua New GuineaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is strictly endemic to the islands of New Britain, New Ireland, and New Hanover in Papua New Guinea.
As a member of the genus Ninox, it lacks the distinct heart-shaped facial disk found in many other owl families, giving it a more hawk-like profile.
The species is divided into two recognized subspecies: the nominate N. v. variegata and the slightly larger N. v. superior.
Its plumage is notable for heavy white spotting on the wings and dense dark brown barring across its underparts.
While primarily insectivorous, it is also known to prey on small vertebrates such as lizards and small birds during nocturnal hunts.

Habitat

Primary and secondary tropical moist lowland forests, forest edges, and occasionally wooded gardens.

Range

Bismarck Archipelago, Papua New Guinea.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Alor BoobookNinox plesseni Andaman BoobookNinox affinis Australian BoobookNinox boobook Barking OwlNinox connivens Brown BoobookNinox scutulata Buru BoobookNinox hantu Camiguin BoobookNinox leventisi Cebu BoobookNinox rumseyi

Heard a Bismarck Boobook?

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