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

Eastern Marsh Harrier

Circus spilonotus

The Eastern Marsh Harrier is a large, elegant raptor specialized for hunting over open wetlands, easily identified by its slender build and buoyant, low-altitude flight. It is a member of the harrier genus Circus, distinguished by its owl-like facial disc and ground-nesting habits.

What it sounds like

Generally silent, but emits a high-pitched, mewing 'kee-a' or a rapid chattering 'pyee-pyee-pyee' during the breeding season.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Lim Ying Hien · MalaysiaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

Exhibits striking sexual dimorphism; males have a tricolored wing pattern of grey, black, and white, while females are predominantly dark brown with cream-colored heads.
Possesses a specialized facial disc that funnels sound to its ears, allowing it to locate hidden prey through auditory cues while flying over dense vegetation.
Hunts using a 'quartering' technique, flying low over reedbeds with wings held in a characteristic V-shaped dihedral.
Was historically considered a subspecies of the Western Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus) before being recognized as a distinct species.
During courtship, males perform spectacular 'sky-dancing' displays involving steep climbs, tumbles, and high-speed dives.

Habitat

Freshwater marshes, reedbeds, lake margins, and wet grasslands; occasionally seen over rice paddies and agricultural fields during winter.

Range

Breeds in Eastern Asia (Siberia, Mongolia, Northeast China, and Japan) and migrates to Southeast Asia, the Philippines, and Indonesia for the winter.

Similar & commonly confused birds

African Marsh HarrierCircus ranivorus Black HarrierCircus maurus Cinereous HarrierCircus cinereus Hen HarrierCircus cyaneus Long-winged HarrierCircus buffoni Malagasy HarrierCircus macrosceles Montagu's HarrierCircus pygargus Northern HarrierCircus hudsonius

Heard a Eastern Marsh Harrier?

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