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

Eurasian Sparrowhawk

Accipiter nisus

A small, highly maneuverable raptor specialized for hunting forest and garden birds through rapid ambush attacks. It is a quintessential woodland hawk characterized by its short wings and long tail.

What it sounds like

A rapid, shrill chattering 'kek-kek-kek-kek', primarily heard near the nesting site.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:11

Rec. Denis Dujardin · FranceCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Displays extreme reversed sexual dimorphism; females can be up to 25% larger and twice as heavy as males.
Adult males possess distinctive blue-grey upperparts and fine rufous-orange barring on the breast and belly.
The species uses long, thin tarsi and a specialized elongated middle toe to snatch agile prey from dense cover.
Populations are highly adapted to urban environments, frequently utilizing garden bird feeders as hunting grounds.
Their flight pattern consists of a characteristic 'flap-flap-glide' sequence, often at very low altitudes to maintain the element of surprise.

Habitat

Coniferous, mixed, and deciduous woodlands, as well as urban parks and residential gardens.

Range

Widespread throughout the Palearctic, from Europe and North Africa to East Asia and Japan.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Cooper's HawkAccipiter cooperii Gray-bellied HawkAccipiter poliogaster Madagascar SparrowhawkAccipiter madagascariensis Ovambo SparrowhawkAccipiter ovampensis Rufous-breasted SparrowhawkAccipiter rufiventris Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatus

Heard a Eurasian Sparrowhawk?

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