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

Imperial Eagle

Aquila heliaca

A large and powerful raptor of the Eastern Palearctic, the Eastern Imperial Eagle is distinguished by its dark plumage and iconic white scapular patches.

What it sounds like

A deep, harsh, repetitive barking sound typically transcribed as 'owk-owk-owk' or 'kyuk-kyuk'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. brickegickel · GermanyCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Adults feature a pale golden-buff crown and nape contrasted against nearly black-brown body feathers.
The species is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, facing threats from habitat loss and electrocution on power lines.
They are specialists in hunting small mammals, particularly ground squirrels known as sousliks.
Unlike the uniform dark adults, juveniles have a pale, sandy-brown appearance with heavy streaking on the underparts.
They construct massive stick nests, or eyries, often located in the crowns of tall, isolated trees.

Habitat

Open landscapes including steppes, forest-steppes, and agricultural areas with scattered large trees.

Range

Breeds from Southeast Europe across Central Asia to Lake Baikal; winters in the Middle East, East Africa, and South Asia.

Similar & commonly confused birds

African Hawk-EagleAquila spilogaster Bonelli's EagleAquila fasciata Cassin's Hawk-EagleAquila africana Golden EagleAquila chrysaetos Gurney's EagleAquila gurneyi Gurney's EagleAquila gurneyi Spanish EagleAquila adalberti Steppe EagleAquila nipalensis

Heard a Imperial Eagle?

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