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

Black-banded Owl

Strix huhula

The Black-banded Owl is a medium-sized, strictly nocturnal raptor easily identified by its dense white horizontal barring and bright orange-yellow bill and feet.

What it sounds like

A rhythmic series of 3 to 4 deep, muffled hoots followed by a higher-pitched, more emphatic final note: 'hu-hu-hu-hu-HUUUUU'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / --:--

Rec. Volmir Daros · BrazilCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is highly secretive and rarely seen, spending its days roosting in dense foliage close to tree trunks.
The species primarily feeds on large insects like cicadas and beetles, supplemented by small bats and birds.
It belongs to the genus Strix, characterized by a large, round head entirely lacking ear tufts.
Breeding biology is poorly known, but they are believed to nest in tree cavities or on top of large epiphytes.
Despite its wide range, it occurs at low densities and is increasingly sensitive to habitat fragmentation in the Atlantic Forest.

Habitat

Primary moist lowland tropical forests and mature secondary growth.

Range

South America, spanning the Amazon Basin and the Atlantic Forest from Colombia to northern Argentina.

Similar & commonly confused birds

African Wood-OwlStrix woodfordii Barred OwlStrix varia Black-and-white OwlStrix nigrolineata Brown Wood-OwlStrix leptogrammica Chaco OwlStrix chacoensis Cinereous OwlStrix sartorii Desert OwlStrix hadorami Fulvous OwlStrix fulvescens

Heard a Black-banded 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