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

Ovambo Sparrowhawk

Accipiter ovampensis

A medium-sized African raptor that uniquely mimics a falcon in flight to ambush avian prey. It is characterized by its polymorphic plumage and distinctive orange-red facial features.

What it sounds like

A rapid, high-pitched sequence of 'kew-kew-kew-kew' or 'ki-ki-ki' notes, often more musical than other sparrowhawks.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:24

Rec. Tony Archer · South AfricaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Exhibits a rare melanistic morph where the entire plumage is sooty-black instead of the typical grey-barred pattern.
Unlike most Accipiters, it has long, pointed wings that resemble a hobby, likely an adaptation for high-speed aerial pursuit.
The cere and legs are a vibrant orange-red, which distinguishes it from the yellow-legged African Goshawk.
Its diet is almost exclusively composed of small to medium-sized birds caught in mid-air.
While mostly sedentary, some populations are intra-African migrants, following seasonal rainfall patterns.

Habitat

Open deciduous woodlands, arid savannas with tall trees, and riverine forests.

Range

Sub-Saharan Africa, ranging from Ethiopia and Chad south to northern South Africa.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Cooper's HawkAccipiter cooperii Eurasian SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus Gray-bellied HawkAccipiter poliogaster Madagascar SparrowhawkAccipiter madagascariensis Rufous-breasted SparrowhawkAccipiter rufiventris Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatus

Heard a Ovambo Sparrowhawk?

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