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

Cooper's Hawk

Accipiter cooperii

A medium-sized accipiter renowned for its exceptional agility and aerial pursuit of smaller birds through dense woodland. It is a common visitor to backyard bird feeders across North America.

What it sounds like

A rapid, nasal, and harsh 'cak-cak-cak-cak' sequence, most frequently heard near the nest.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

Field notes

Specializes in 'stealth-and-dash' hunting, using dense vegetation for cover before an explosive burst of speed.
Distinguishable from the similar Sharp-shinned Hawk by its larger, more squared-off head and rounded tail tip.
Adults possess striking red eyes and blue-gray dorsal plumage with fine rufous barring on the breast.
Can survive high-impact collisions during hunts; studies show many skeletons have healed chest bone fractures.
Displays significant reverse sexual dimorphism, with females being up to one-third larger than males.

Habitat

Mixed forests, deciduous woodlands, and leafy suburban neighborhoods.

Range

Southern Canada through the contiguous United States to Central Mexico.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Eurasian SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus Gray-bellied HawkAccipiter poliogaster Madagascar SparrowhawkAccipiter madagascariensis Ovambo SparrowhawkAccipiter ovampensis Rufous-breasted SparrowhawkAccipiter rufiventris Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatus

Heard a Cooper's Hawk?

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