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

Buru Boobook

Ninox hantu

The Buru Boobook is a small, nocturnal owl endemic to the island of Buru, recognized by its rich rufous-brown plumage and lack of a distinct facial disc.

What it sounds like

A rhythmic, two-note hoot typically transcribed as 'to-wook' or 'who-wuk', repeated at steady intervals.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 1:54

Rec. Dušan M. Brinkhuizen · IndonesiaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

It was previously classified as a subspecies of the Moluccan Boobook before being elevated to a full species based on distinct vocalizations.
The specific name 'hantu' translates to 'ghost' or 'spirit' in Indonesian, referencing its elusive nocturnal behavior.
Unlike many typical owls, species in the genus Ninox have a more hawk-like profile due to their smaller heads and reduced facial plumage.
It occupies a broad elevational range, occurring from coastal lowlands up to montane forests at approximately 1,500 meters.
Its diet is poorly documented but is believed to consist primarily of large nocturnal insects and small vertebrates.

Habitat

Primary and secondary tropical moist forests, forest edges, and occasionally partially cleared agricultural land.

Range

Endemic to Buru Island in the Maluku Islands of Indonesia.

Similar & commonly confused birds

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

Heard a Buru Boobook?

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