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-legged Buzzard

Buteo rufinus

The Long-legged Buzzard is the largest Western Palearctic Buteo, distinguished by its eagle-like silhouette, long legs, and highly variable rufous plumage.

What it sounds like

A drawn-out, melancholic 'piii-ay' or 'klee-oo', similar to the Common Buzzard but typically deeper and more nasal.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Marco Dragonetti · RomaniaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is highly polymorphic, with individuals ranging from very pale morphs to deep chocolate-brown varieties.
The species' name refers to its unusually long tarsi, an adaptation for seizing terrestrial prey in open environments.
Unlike many soaring hawks, it frequently hunts by standing on the ground or waiting on low perches for rodents and reptiles.
During courtship, pairs engage in dramatic aerial displays including high-altitude 'sky-dancing' and talon-locking.
It is a partial migrant, with northern populations moving to Africa or India while Mediterranean birds are often sedentary.

Habitat

Open, arid landscapes such as steppes, semi-deserts, and rocky mountain foothills.

Range

Southeastern Europe and North Africa, extending through Central Asia to the Himalayas.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Augur BuzzardButeo augur Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterus Common BuzzardButeo buteo Eastern BuzzardButeo japonicus Ferruginous HawkButeo regalis Forest BuzzardButeo trizonatus Galapagos HawkButeo galapagoensis Gray HawkButeo plagiatus

Heard a Long-legged Buzzard?

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