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

Oriental Honey-buzzard

Pernis ptilorhynchus

A medium-sized, polymorphic raptor specialized for raiding social insect nests, characterized by its small, pigeon-like head and long neck.

What it sounds like

A high-pitched, thin whistle described as 'pi-ew' or 'ee-low,' often rising in pitch.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:34

Rec. Ding Li Yong · SingaporeCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

Equipped with dense, scale-like feathers on its face that act as armor against stings from wasps and hornets.
Exhibits extraordinary plumage mimicry, often resembling the more powerful Crested Goshawk to discourage mobbing by smaller birds.
Features specialized slit-like nostrils that prevent soil and hive debris from entering the respiratory system while excavating.
Maintains a unique diet consisting primarily of the larvae, pupae, and honeycombs of social Hymenoptera.
A highly migratory species, with northern populations traveling thousands of miles from Siberia to Southeast Asia for the winter.

Habitat

Broadleaf deciduous forests, evergreen woodlands, and tropical plantations.

Range

Widespread across South, East, and Southeast Asia, ranging from Siberia and Japan to Indonesia.

Similar & commonly confused birds

European Honey-buzzardPernis apivorus Philippine Honey-buzzardPernis steerei Sulawesi Honey-buzzardPernis celebensis

Heard a Oriental Honey-buzzard?

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