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

Forest Owlet

Athene blewitti

A rare, diurnal owl endemic to central India, famously rediscovered in 1997 after being presumed extinct for over a century.

What it sounds like

A series of mellow, hollow 'huhl-huhl' notes or a harsh, high-pitched screech during territorial disputes.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Saswat Mishra · IndiaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is primarily diurnal, frequently seen hunting and perching in the open during daylight hours.
The species was missing for 113 years until its rediscovery, partly due to fraudulent historical records.
It possesses an unusually large, heavy beak and powerful talons compared to its small 23-centimeter body.
When excited or hunting, it displays a characteristic lateral flicking of its heavily barred tail.
Its plumage lacks the white spots on the crown and mantle that distinguish it from the similar Spotted Owlet.

Habitat

Open dry deciduous teak forests and fragmented woodlands.

Range

Central India, including parts of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Burrowing OwlAthene cunicularia Guadalcanal OwlAthene granti Little OwlAthene noctua Makira OwlAthene roseoaxillaris Malaita OwlAthene malaitae Spotted OwletAthene brama West Solomons OwlAthene jacquinoti White-browed OwlAthene superciliaris

Heard a Forest Owlet?

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