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

Cloud-forest Pygmy-Owl

Glaucidium nubicola

A tiny, elusive owl endemic to the humid montane forests of the Chocó, characterized by its cryptic plumage and distinctive 'false eyes' on the nape.

What it sounds like

A rapid, rhythmic series of hollow, whistled 'toot' notes, typically repeated for long durations.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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

Field notes

It possesses a pair of dark patches on its nape known as 'false eyes' or ocelli to deter predators and mobbing songbirds.
The species was only formally described by science in 1999, having previously been confused with the closely related Andean Pygmy-Owl.
Unlike many owls, it is frequently active during the day and at dusk, preying on insects and birds nearly its own size.
It is restricted to a very narrow elevational belt, primarily between 1,400 and 2,000 meters above sea level.
It is currently listed as Vulnerable due to its small, declining population caused by rapid deforestation in the Chocó region.

Habitat

Primary humid montane cloud forests and extremely wet forest edges.

Range

West slope of the Andes in western Colombia and northwestern Ecuador.

Similar & commonly confused birds

African Barred OwletGlaucidium capense Albertine OwletGlaucidium albertinum Amazonian Pygmy-OwlGlaucidium hardyi Andean Pygmy-OwlGlaucidium jardinii Asian Barred OwletGlaucidium cuculoides Austral Pygmy-OwlGlaucidium nana Central American Pygmy-OwlGlaucidium griseiceps Chestnut-backed OwletGlaucidium castanotum

Heard a Cloud-forest Pygmy-Owl?

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