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

Madagascar Sparrowhawk

Accipiter madagascariensis

A small, agile raptor endemic to Madagascar, characterized by its rapid flight and specialized hunting of small birds within forest understories.

What it sounds like

A rapid, high-pitched series of 'ke-ke-ke-ke' or 'kew-kew-kew' notes, most frequently heard during the breeding season.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:10

Rec. Ross Gallardy · MadagascarCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It exhibits pronounced reverse sexual dimorphism, with females weighing significantly more than their male counterparts.
Though primarily an avian specialist, it also consumes lizards, large insects, and occasionally small rodents.
The species is currently classified as Near Threatened due to accelerating habitat loss and forest fragmentation across its range.
It belongs to the 'true hawks' genus Accipiter and is more closely related to the Henst's Goshawk than to many mainland African sparrowhawks.
Its hunting strategy involves 'sit-and-wait' ambushes or low-level, high-speed pursuits through dense vegetation.

Habitat

Humid evergreen forests, dry deciduous woodlands, and occasionally degraded secondary forests or plantations.

Range

Endemic to Madagascar, occurring from sea level up to 1,500 meters.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Cooper's HawkAccipiter cooperii Eurasian SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus Gray-bellied HawkAccipiter poliogaster Ovambo SparrowhawkAccipiter ovampensis Rufous-breasted SparrowhawkAccipiter rufiventris Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatus

Heard a Madagascar Sparrowhawk?

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