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 Scops-Owl

Otus sunia

A small, highly camouflaged owl known for its prominent ear tufts and distinct color polymorphism ranging from greyish-brown to bright rufous.

What it sounds like

A repetitive, four-note rhythmic pulse often transcribed as 'tuk-tok-torr-ok' with a hollow, frog-like quality.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:27

Rec. Yuichi Yamaura · JapanCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is a polymorphic species, appearing in distinct grey, brown, and rufous color phases to match various bark types.
Unlike many larger owls, its diet is primarily insectivorous, focusing on beetles, grasshoppers, and moths.
Northern populations in Russia and Japan are migratory, wintering in warmer climates like the Malay Peninsula.
It possesses a cryptic posture, elongating its body and raising ear tufts to mimic a broken tree branch when threatened.
The species is predominantly nocturnal but can occasionally be heard calling during overcast days or at dusk.

Habitat

Open and dry deciduous forests, parklands, gardens, and cultivated areas with scattered trees.

Range

Spans across South, East, and Southeast Asia, from the Russian Far East to Sri Lanka and the Indonesian archipelago.

Similar & commonly confused birds

African Scops-OwlOtus senegalensis Andaman Scops-OwlOtus balli Anjouan Scops-OwlOtus capnodes Arabian Scops-OwlOtus pamelae Banggai Scops-OwlOtus mendeni Biak Scops-OwlOtus beccarii Collared Scops-OwlOtus lettia Comoro Scops-OwlOtus pauliani

Heard a Oriental Scops-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