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 Baza

Aviceda leuphotes

A medium-sized, distinctive raptor known for its striking black, white, and chestnut plumage and a prominent, needle-like crest. It is a highly social species, often observed in small flocks rather than as solitary individuals.

What it sounds like

A thin, high-pitched, and shrill whistling 'chu-wee' or 'pwee-pwee', often delivered in flight.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Jelle Scharringa · ThailandCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It possesses a exceptionally long, erect crest that it frequently raises when perched or alarmed.
Unlike most raptors, it is largely insectivorous, specializing in capturing large insects like mantises and beetles mid-air.
The species is notably crepuscular, often reaching its peak activity levels during the dim light of dawn and dusk.
During migration, they are remarkably gregarious, sometimes forming loose groups of up to 20 or more individuals.
They belong to the subfamily Perninae, sharing specialized 'toothed' bills with other bazas and honey-buzzards.

Habitat

Broadleaf evergreen forests, deciduous woodlands, and forest edges near open clearings.

Range

South and Southeast Asia, spanning from the eastern Himalayas and southern China to the Malay Peninsula and Indonesia.

Similar & commonly confused birds

African Cuckoo-HawkAviceda cuculoides Jerdon's BazaAviceda jerdoni Jerdon's BazaAviceda jerdoni Madagascar Cuckoo-HawkAviceda madagascariensis Pacific BazaAviceda subcristata

Heard a Black Baza?

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