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

Great Horned Owl

Bubo virginianus

A formidable and adaptable apex predator, the Great Horned Owl is easily identified by its prominent feathered ear tufts and piercing yellow eyes.

What it sounds like

A deep, resonant series of low hoots in a rhythmic pattern: 'hoo-h'HOO--hoo-hoo'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:43

Rec. Scott Olmstead · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Possesses a powerful strike with a crushing talon pressure of up to 500 psi, capable of severing the spine of large prey.
Known as one of the primary predators of skunks, as they have a negligible sense of smell to be deterred by the scent.
The 'horns' are actually plumicorns, clusters of feathers used for social signaling and camouflage rather than hearing.
One of the earliest nesting birds in North America, often brooding eggs in mid-winter during sub-zero temperatures.
Their tubular eyes are fixed in place by bony sclerotic rings, necessitating a 270-degree neck rotation to change their field of view.

Habitat

Extremely diverse, ranging from dense deciduous and coniferous forests to desert canyons, cliffs, and suburban parks.

Range

Widespread across the Americas, from the northern tree line in Alaska and Canada down to the southern tip of South America.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Arabian Eagle-OwlBubo milesi Cape Eagle-OwlBubo capensis Eurasian Eagle-OwlBubo bubo Grayish Eagle-OwlBubo cinerascens Lesser Horned OwlBubo magellanicus Pharaoh Eagle-OwlBubo ascalaphus Rock Eagle-OwlBubo bengalensis Snowy OwlBubo scandiacus

Heard a Great Horned Owl?

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