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

Chaco Owl

Strix chacoensis

A medium-sized, earless owl characterized by its dense horizontal barring and specialization in the arid woodlands of South America's Gran Chaco.

What it sounds like

A series of deep, guttural hoots, typically four to six notes with a rhythmic emphasis on the final, longer note: 'hu-hu-hu-hu-HÓOOO'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Fabrice Schmitt · ParaguayCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It was formerly classified as a subspecies of the Rufous-legged Owl (Strix rufipes) but is now recognized as a distinct species.
The species lacks ear tufts, giving its head a perfectly round appearance common to the genus Strix.
Its plumage serves as highly effective camouflage against the bark of thorny trees in its dry forest habitat.
It is primarily nocturnal and spends its daylight hours roosting in the deepest, most impenetrable thorny thickets.
The Chaco Owl is currently listed as Near Threatened due to the rapid conversion of its native biome for cattle ranching and soy production.

Habitat

Arid to semi-arid subtropical dry forests, thorny scrublands, and savannas.

Range

The Gran Chaco region of northern Argentina, western Paraguay, and southeastern Bolivia.

Similar & commonly confused birds

African Wood-OwlStrix woodfordii Barred OwlStrix varia Black-and-white OwlStrix nigrolineata Black-banded OwlStrix huhula Brown Wood-OwlStrix leptogrammica Cinereous OwlStrix sartorii Desert OwlStrix hadorami Fulvous OwlStrix fulvescens

Heard a Chaco Owl?

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