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

Foothill Screech-Owl

Megascops roraimae

The Foothill Screech-Owl is a small, nocturnal raptor characterized by its cryptic plumage and preference for the humid transition zones of South American mountain ranges.

What it sounds like

A rapid, monotonic trill of short, hollow notes that begins softly, accelerates, and then ends abruptly.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Tristan Guillebot de Nerville · French GuianaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It displays distinct polychromatism, occurring in both a grey-brown morph and a vibrant rufous morph.
Formerly classified as a subspecies of the Vermiculated Screech-Owl, it was elevated to species status based on vocal and genetic differences.
The species is highly territorial, using its rhythmic trills to defend home ranges in dense mid-level canopy.
Its plumage features fine, wavy lines known as vermiculations that provide exceptional camouflage against moss and lichen.
Dietary studies indicate it is primarily insectivorous, focusing on large moths, beetles, and orthopterans.

Habitat

Primary humid montane forests and foothill evergreen forests, typically between 700 and 1,800 meters in elevation.

Range

Spans the Andes from Venezuela to Bolivia, including the Tepui region of the Guiana Shield in Brazil and Guyana.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Balsas Screech-OwlMegascops seductus Bare-shanked Screech-OwlMegascops clarkii Bearded Screech-OwlMegascops barbarus Black-capped Screech-OwlMegascops atricapilla Choco Screech-OwlMegascops centralis Cinnamon Screech-OwlMegascops petersoni Cloud-forest Screech-OwlMegascops marshalli Eastern Screech-OwlMegascops asio

Heard a Foothill Screech-Owl?

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