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

Broad-winged Hawk

Buteo platypterus

A small, stocky forest raptor known for its distinctive banded tail and spectacular large-scale migrations.

What it sounds like

A high-pitched, thin, piercing whistle: 'pwee-eeeeee'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Denis Dujardin · FranceCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

During fall migration, they gather in massive flocks called 'kettles' that can contain thousands of individuals.
They are long-distance migrants, with some populations traveling over 4,000 miles to South America.
Unlike many hawks, they are secretive during the breeding season, preferring deep forest interiors.
Their diet is highly varied, including small mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and large insects.
They are the smallest members of the Buteo genus found in the Eastern United States.

Habitat

Deciduous or mixed coniferous-deciduous forests, often near water or clearings.

Range

Breeds in Eastern North America and West Coast; winters in Central and South America.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Augur BuzzardButeo augur Common BuzzardButeo buteo Eastern BuzzardButeo japonicus Ferruginous HawkButeo regalis Forest BuzzardButeo trizonatus Galapagos HawkButeo galapagoensis Gray HawkButeo plagiatus Gray-lined HawkButeo nitidus

Heard a Broad-winged Hawk?

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