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

Osprey

Pandion haliaetus

The Osprey is a specialized, large raptor uniquely adapted for piscivory, often seen hovering over bodies of water before diving feet-first to snatch fish.

What it sounds like

A series of sharp, high-pitched whistling chirps or 'kew-kew-kew' notes.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Paul Driver · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is the only raptor with a reversible outer toe, allowing it to grip slippery fish with two toes forward and two back.
The pads of its feet are covered in specialized spicules called scales that act like sandpaper to prevent prey from escaping.
Ospreys almost always carry captured fish head-first to reduce wind resistance during flight.
It possesses closable nostrils and oily, waterproof plumage to protect it during high-velocity dives into water.
While it is a bird of prey, it belongs to its own unique taxonomic family, Pandionidae, separate from hawks and eagles.

Habitat

Coastal estuaries, salt marshes, lakes, and large rivers with abundant fish populations.

Range

Cosmopolitan distribution; found on every continent except Antarctica.

Heard a Osprey?

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