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

European Honey-buzzard

Pernis apivorus

A medium-sized migratory raptor specialized in raiding the nests of social wasps and bees, characterized by a small, pigeon-like head and broad wings.

What it sounds like

A clear, thin, high-pitched whistling 'pwee-uu', notably different from the mewing of the Common Buzzard.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Dare Šere · SloveniaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

Equipped with dense, scale-like feathers on the lores and around the eyes to protect against insect stings.
The diet consists primarily of the larvae and pupae of wasps and hornets, which it extracts by digging up nests with its feet.
Performs a distinctive aerial display known as 'sky-dancing' where it claps its wings together high above its back.
Possesses slit-like nostrils to prevent soil and nest debris from entering the respiratory tract while excavating.
A long-distance migrant that avoids large sea crossings, concentrating in massive numbers at bottlenecks like the Strait of Gibraltar.

Habitat

Mature deciduous and mixed woodlands with nearby open glades, meadows, or heathland.

Range

Breeds across most of Europe and Western Asia; winters in sub-Saharan Africa.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Oriental Honey-buzzardPernis ptilorhynchus Philippine Honey-buzzardPernis steerei Sulawesi Honey-buzzardPernis celebensis

Heard a European Honey-buzzard?

Open Birdsong, tap record, and identify the bird singing near you in seconds — then collect it in your field journal.

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