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

Common Black Hawk

Buteogallus anthracinus

A medium-sized, stocky raptor with soot-black plumage and exceptionally broad wings, primarily found near water sources.

What it sounds like

A high-pitched, piping series of whistling notes, often transcribed as 'spink-spink-spink-spink'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Albert Lastukhin · Costa RicaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

Specializes in hunting aquatic prey, particularly crabs, which earn it the nickname 'crab hawk' in some regions.
Adults possess a single, conspicuous broad white band across the middle of an otherwise black tail.
Unlike many soaring hawks, it frequently hunts from low perches or by walking along the ground in riparian zones.
The species is highly dependent on mature gallery forests and mangroves for nesting and foraging.
Juveniles are markedly different from adults, featuring heavily streaked brown and buff plumage and multiple thin tail bands.

Habitat

Riparian woodlands, mangrove swamps, and coastal lagoons.

Range

Southwestern United States through Central America to northern South America and the Caribbean.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Chaco EagleButeogallus coronatus Cuban Black HawkButeogallus gundlachii Great Black HawkButeogallus urubitinga Rufous Crab HawkButeogallus aequinoctialis Savanna HawkButeogallus meridionalis Slate-colored HawkButeogallus schistaceus Slate-colored HawkButeogallus schistaceus Solitary EagleButeogallus solitarius

Heard a Common Black Hawk?

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Identify a bird by its song