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-lined Hawk

Buteo nitidus

A small, elegant neotropical raptor characterized by its finely barred silver-gray plumage and swift, accipiter-like hunting style.

What it sounds like

A loud, piercing, whistled 'klee-eee-ar' or 'shreee-er' that typically descends in pitch.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Manuel Sánchez-Nivicela · EcuadorCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

Formerly considered conspecific with the Gray Hawk (Buteo plagiatus) until distinct vocal and plumage differences led to a taxonomic split.
Unlike many Buteo species, it possesses relatively short, rounded wings and a long tail, providing high maneuverability in forested environments.
Its diet is heavily specialized toward squamates, particularly lizards and snakes, which it captures via short 'perch-to-ground' sallies.
Juvenile birds look strikingly different from adults, featuring brownish upperparts, dark streaks on a buffy breast, and a bold white supercilium.
They are frequently observed in pairs during the breeding season, engaging in high-altitude soaring and vocal aerial displays.

Habitat

Lowland tropical forests, riverine gallery woodlands, and humid savanna edges.

Range

Central America (Costa Rica and Panama) through South America to northern Argentina and southern Brazil.

Similar & commonly confused birds

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

Heard a Gray-lined Hawk?

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