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 Falcon

Falco subniger

The Black Falcon is a large, powerful raptor endemic to Australia, characterized by its uniform dark plumage and exceptional speed in horizontal pursuit.

What it sounds like

A harsh, rapid-fire cackling 'kek-kek-kek' or a slower, drawn-out grating 'cre-cre-cre'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 1:02

Rec. Marc Anderson · AustraliaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is Australia's largest falcon species, with a wingspan that can reach up to 115 centimeters.
Unlike most other falcon species, it lacks a prominent dark malar stripe or facial mask.
The species frequently follows bushfires, farm machinery, and even other predators to capture flushed prey.
They do not build their own nests, instead occupying abandoned stick nests built by corvids or other raptors.
While many falcons hunt via high-altitude stoops, the Black Falcon typically captures avian prey through low-level, high-speed tail-chasing.

Habitat

Open grasslands, arid shrublands, and sparse woodlands, usually near watercourses.

Range

Endemic to mainland Australia, primarily found in the arid and semi-arid interior.

Similar & commonly confused birds

African HobbyFalco cuvierii American KestrelFalco sparverius Amur FalconFalco amurensis Aplomado FalconFalco femoralis Australian HobbyFalco longipennis Banded KestrelFalco zoniventris Bat FalconFalco rufigularis Brown FalconFalco berigora

Heard a Black Falcon?

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