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 Screech-Owl

Megascops marshalli

The Cloud-forest Screech-Owl is a medium-sized, nocturnal raptor endemic to the humid montane forests of the eastern Andean slopes. It is distinguished by its lack of prominent ear tufts and its striking, bright orange-yellow irises.

What it sounds like

A long, low-pitched trill that lasts several seconds, gradually increasing in volume and pace before abruptly ending.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Jacob Wijpkema · BoliviaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

First scientifically described in 1981, it was discovered relatively recently compared to other Neotropical owls.
Unlike most members of the Megascops genus, it has very small, inconspicuous ear tufts that are often nearly invisible in the field.
It occupies a narrow elevational band, typically restricted to heights between 1,500 and 2,600 meters.
The species occurs in two distinct color morphs: a dark brown-gray morph and a vibrant rufous morph.
Its plumage is characterized by dense, heavy horizontal barring on the underparts, providing excellent camouflage against mossy bark.

Habitat

Primary humid montane cloud forests characterized by high epiphyte and moss density.

Range

Eastern slopes of the Andes in central Peru and northern Bolivia.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Balsas Screech-OwlMegascops seductus Bare-shanked Screech-OwlMegascops clarkii Bearded Screech-OwlMegascops barbarus Black-capped Screech-OwlMegascops atricapilla Choco Screech-OwlMegascops centralis Cinnamon Screech-OwlMegascops petersoni Eastern Screech-OwlMegascops asio Foothill Screech-OwlMegascops roraimae

Heard a Cloud-forest Screech-Owl?

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