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

Cassin's Hawk-Eagle

Aquila africana

A small, elusive raptor of the African rainforest canopy, notable for its striking black-and-white plumage and feathered legs.

What it sounds like

A series of high-pitched, clear whistling notes, often rendered as 'pwee-pwee-pwee'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 1:05

Rec. Deville Tanguy · Congo (Democratic Republic)CC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Molecular studies led to its reclassification from the genus Hieraaetus to Aquila.
It is a specialist predator of arboreal mammals, particularly squirrels, and small birds.
Adults feature a distinctive white underside heavily marked with black spots on the breast and flanks.
Unlike many forest eagles, it is known to soar frequently over the canopy during the heat of the day.
The species is largely sedentary, remaining within its forest territory throughout the year.

Habitat

Primary lowland rainforest and dense gallery forests.

Range

West and Central Africa, from Sierra Leone to western Uganda and south to northern Angola.

Similar & commonly confused birds

African Hawk-EagleAquila spilogaster Bonelli's EagleAquila fasciata Golden EagleAquila chrysaetos Gurney's EagleAquila gurneyi Gurney's EagleAquila gurneyi Imperial EagleAquila heliaca Spanish EagleAquila adalberti Steppe EagleAquila nipalensis

Heard a Cassin's Hawk-Eagle?

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