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

Gray-bellied Hawk

Accipiter poliogaster

A rare and elusive Neotropical raptor known for its robust build and remarkable juvenile mimicry of the Ornate Hawk-Eagle.

What it sounds like

A rapid, high-pitched series of nasal 'kek-kek-kek-kek' or 'kyou-kyou-kyou' notes, usually delivered from a hidden perch.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Willian Menq · BrazilCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Juveniles exhibit striking plumage mimicry of the Ornate Hawk-Eagle to reduce mobbing by smaller birds and deter larger predators.
It is historically considered one of the most poorly known members of the Accipiter genus due to its secretive canopy-dwelling nature.
The species primarily hunts birds, including substantial prey such as tinamous, parakeets, and large oropendolas.
Its morphology is distinct among its genus, featuring relatively long wings and a shorter tail, which can cause it to be mistaken for a falcon in flight.
Adults are characterized by a dark slate-gray mantle and a pale, unbarred gray breast, lacking the rufous thighs seen in the similar Bicolored Hawk.

Habitat

Primary lowland tropical evergreen forests, seasonally flooded forests, and dense gallery woodlands below 500 meters.

Range

Widespread but patchy distribution across South America, including the Amazon Basin, southern Brazil, Paraguay, and northern Argentina.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Cooper's HawkAccipiter cooperii Eurasian SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus Madagascar SparrowhawkAccipiter madagascariensis Ovambo SparrowhawkAccipiter ovampensis Rufous-breasted SparrowhawkAccipiter rufiventris Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatus

Heard a Gray-bellied Hawk?

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

Identify a bird by its song