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

Northern Boobook

Ninox japonica

A medium-sized 'hawk-owl' of East Asia, the Northern Boobook is characterized by its lack of a distinct facial disk, dark chocolate-brown plumage, and piercing yellow eyes.

What it sounds like

A rhythmic, mellow two-note hoot, often transcribed as 'hoo-wuk' or 'pomp-pomp', repeated at short intervals.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:16

Rec. Lim Ying Hien · MalaysiaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

Formerly classified as a subspecies of the Brown Boobook, it was elevated to species status based on distinct vocalizations and DNA.
Unlike most owls, it has a hawk-like silhouette in flight due to its relatively long tail and narrow, pointed wings.
It is a highly migratory species, with northern populations traveling thousands of kilometers to winter in Southeast Asia.
The species is crepuscular and nocturnal, frequently seen hunting large insects like moths and beetles around suburban streetlights.
Nesting occurs in natural tree hollows or abandoned woodpecker holes, often situated high above the ground in mature trees.

Habitat

Deciduous, coniferous, and mixed forests, as well as urban parks, gardens, and agricultural groves.

Range

Breeds in Eastern Siberia, Northern China, Korea, and Japan; winters in the Philippines, Indonesia, and Southeast Asia.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Alor BoobookNinox plesseni Andaman BoobookNinox affinis Australian BoobookNinox boobook Barking OwlNinox connivens Bismarck BoobookNinox variegata Brown BoobookNinox scutulata Buru BoobookNinox hantu Camiguin BoobookNinox leventisi

Heard a Northern Boobook?

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