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-winged Harrier

Circus buffoni

The Long-winged Harrier is a graceful, slim-bodied raptor of South American open landscapes, distinguished by its exceptionally long wings and characteristic low-gliding flight. It is one of the few harrier species to exhibit both light and dark plumage morphs in both sexes.

What it sounds like

A series of high-pitched, rapid 'ke-ke-ke' notes or a drawn-out, whistling 'pi-u' during displays.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Douglas Meyer · BrazilCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It possesses the longest wings relative to body size of any member of the genus Circus.
Both males and females occur in distinct light and dark color morphs, which is unusual among harriers.
The species utilizes a feathered facial disc, similar to an owl's, to locate hidden prey through sound while hunting.
During the breeding season, males perform spectacular 'sky-dancing' aerial displays involving steep dives and loops.
It is highly nomadic, often moving long distances to track fluctuations in rodent populations or changes in water levels.

Habitat

Freshwater marshes, wet grasslands, savannas, reed beds, and flooded agricultural fields.

Range

South America, ranging from Colombia and the Guianas south to central Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay.

Similar & commonly confused birds

African Marsh HarrierCircus ranivorus Black HarrierCircus maurus Cinereous HarrierCircus cinereus Eastern Marsh HarrierCircus spilonotus Hen HarrierCircus cyaneus Malagasy HarrierCircus macrosceles Montagu's HarrierCircus pygargus Northern HarrierCircus hudsonius

Heard a Long-winged Harrier?

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