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

Hen Harrier

Circus cyaneus

A slender, medium-sized raptor of open country, famous for its buoyant, low-gliding flight and extreme sexual dimorphism.

What it sounds like

A rapid, high-pitched chattering 'kek-kek-kek' notes, primarily used during alarm or at breeding sites.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:19

Rec. Robin et Julien SOURIOU · FranceCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Possesses a distinct facial disc similar to an owl, which funnels sound to help it hunt by ear in thick vegetation.
Exhibits extreme sexual dimorphism: males are pale grey ('Ghost Hawks'), while females are larger and streaked brown ('Ringtails').
Engages in a spectacular aerial courtship display known as 'sky-dancing,' featuring series of high-altitude dives and loops.
Unlike most raptors, it is a ground-nesting species, typically concealing its eggs in deep heather, rushes, or tall grass.
During winter months, these birds often gather in communal roosts on the ground, sometimes containing dozens of individuals.

Habitat

Heather moorlands, blanket bogs, saltmarshes, and extensive open grasslands.

Range

Breeds across Northern Eurasia (Palearctic); winters in Southern Europe, North Africa, and Southern Asia.

Similar & commonly confused birds

African Marsh HarrierCircus ranivorus Black HarrierCircus maurus Cinereous HarrierCircus cinereus Eastern Marsh HarrierCircus spilonotus Long-winged HarrierCircus buffoni Malagasy HarrierCircus macrosceles Montagu's HarrierCircus pygargus Northern HarrierCircus hudsonius

Heard a Hen Harrier?

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Identify a bird by its song