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

Malaita Owl

Athene malaitae

A small, cryptic forest owl endemic to the Solomon Islands, characterized by its yellow irises and lack of a prominent facial disk.

What it sounds like

A series of clear, rhythmic hooting notes, typically delivered as a double-syllabic 'poo-poo'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / --:--

Rec. Guy Dutson · Solomon IslandsCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Historically classified as a subspecies of the Solomon Hawk-owl (Athene jacquinoti) until elevated to species rank based on vocal and morphological differences.
The species is strictly endemic to Malaita Island, occupying a total range of less than 4,500 square kilometers.
It is listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN due to its small population size and the ongoing threat of habitat loss from logging and subsistence agriculture.
Its plumage is primarily dark brown with intricate white spotting on the wings and barring on the underparts.
As a member of the 'hawk-owl' group, it possesses a more hawk-like profile and relatively longer tail compared to typical owls.

Habitat

Tropical moist lowland forests and disturbed secondary growth.

Range

Malaita Island, Solomon Islands.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Burrowing OwlAthene cunicularia Forest OwletAthene blewitti Guadalcanal OwlAthene granti Little OwlAthene noctua Makira OwlAthene roseoaxillaris Spotted OwletAthene brama West Solomons OwlAthene jacquinoti White-browed OwlAthene superciliaris

Heard a Malaita Owl?

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