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

Ferruginous Hawk

Buteo regalis

The Ferruginous Hawk is the largest Buteo in North America, a regal raptor distinguished by its rusty plumage and unique feathered legs.

What it sounds like

A harsh, scratchy, descending 'kree-a' or 'kee-ah' that is generally higher-pitched and weaker than a Red-tailed Hawk's scream.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Sue Riffe · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is one of only two North American hawk species with feathers extending all the way down to the toes.
The species has an exceptionally wide gape, with the mouth line extending back beneath the center of the eye.
Historically, these hawks often used bison bones and wool as primary nesting materials in the open prairie.
They occur in two distinct color phases: a common light morph and a rarer, soot-colored dark morph.
Unlike many other hawks, they frequently nest on the ground or on low cliffs in addition to lone trees.

Habitat

Arid, open country including grasslands, sagebrush steppes, and desert scrub.

Range

Western North America, from south-central Canada through the Great Plains and Great Basin to northern Mexico.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Augur BuzzardButeo augur Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterus Common BuzzardButeo buteo Eastern BuzzardButeo japonicus Forest BuzzardButeo trizonatus Galapagos HawkButeo galapagoensis Gray HawkButeo plagiatus Gray-lined HawkButeo nitidus

Heard a Ferruginous Hawk?

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