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

Hook-billed Kite

Chondrohierax uncinatus

The Hook-billed Kite is a distinctive Neotropical raptor characterized by its oversized, deeply hooked beak and extreme plumage polymorphism.

What it sounds like

A series of musical, whistled notes often transcribed as 'wi-wi-wi-o' or a rising 'kew-weee'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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

Field notes

It is a dietary specialist that feeds almost exclusively on arboreal snails.
Bill size varies significantly between individuals of the same population to accommodate different sizes of local snail prey.
The species displays multiple color morphs, including light, dark, and rufous-barred variations.
They possess unusually broad, paddle-shaped wings and a short, rounded tail, giving them a unique flight profile.
Unlike many kites, it is a sluggish hunter that often sits motionless in the mid-canopy for extended periods.

Habitat

Tropical lowland forests, riparian woodlands, and dense marshes.

Range

From the Rio Grande Valley of Texas through Central and South America to northern Argentina.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Cuban KiteChondrohierax wilsonii

Heard a Hook-billed Kite?

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