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

Pearl Kite

Gampsonyx swainsonii

The Pearl Kite is the smallest raptor in the Americas, a tiny and elegant bird of prey that resembles a falconet in appearance and behavior.

What it sounds like

A series of high-pitched, musical 'pip-pip-pip-pip' notes or a sharp, whistling 'kitty-kitty-kitty'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / --:--

Rec. Richard E. Webster · GuyanaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is the smallest Neotropical bird of prey, typically measuring only 20 to 28 centimeters in length and weighing around 80-100 grams.
Unlike most raptors, it lacks a bony supraorbital ridge above the eye, resulting in a distinctively gentle, 'soft-eyed' expression.
Its diet is primarily insectivorous, focusing on large grasshoppers, though it also frequently hunts small lizards and frogs.
The species has significantly expanded its range northward into Central America as a result of deforestation creating new open habitats.
It typically hunts from high, exposed perches, performing quick aerial sallies or steep dives to the ground to snatch prey.

Habitat

Open savannas, dry scrublands, and agricultural clearings with scattered tall trees.

Range

Neotropical regions ranging from Nicaragua and Panama south to northern Argentina.

Heard a Pearl Kite?

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