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

Long-eared Owl

Asio otus

A medium-sized, slender owl characterized by exceptionally long vertical ear tufts and a distinctive orange facial disk. It is a strictly nocturnal hunter that utilizes dense foliage for daytime concealment.

What it sounds like

A low, soft, and repetitive 'hoo' given by males at intervals; females produce a nasal, higher-pitched 'shoo-oogh'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Peter Boesman · ChinaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

The prominent 'ear tufts' are actually specialized feathers used for social signaling and camouflage, not for hearing.
Unlike many solitary raptors, they are highly social in winter and may form communal roosts containing dozens of individuals.
To avoid detection, they perform a 'tall-thin' posture, stretching their bodies to mimic a broken tree branch.
They are obligate secondary cavity/nest nesters, typically utilizing abandoned stick nests built by crows, magpies, or hawks.
Their hearing is so acute they can locate and capture prey moving entirely beneath deep snow or dense leaf litter.

Habitat

Dense coniferous or deciduous groves in close proximity to open grasslands, meadows, or shrublands.

Range

Holarctic; distributed widely across North America, Europe, and Asia.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Abyssinian OwlAsio abyssinicus Fearful OwlAsio solomonensis Jamaican OwlAsio grammicus Madagascar OwlAsio madagascariensis Marsh OwlAsio capensis Short-eared OwlAsio flammeus Striped OwlAsio clamator Stygian OwlAsio stygius

Heard a Long-eared Owl?

Open Birdsong, tap record, and identify the bird singing near you in seconds — then collect it in your field journal.

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