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

Red Kite

Milvus milvus

An elegant, medium-large raptor easily distinguished by its deeply forked tail and acrobatic, scavenging flight patterns.

What it sounds like

A thin, high-pitched, piping 'mewing' sound, often transcribed as a whistling 'peee-oo-eeoo-eeoo'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Paul Gosling · United KingdomCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Possesses a deeply forked, russet-colored tail that acts as a highly sensitive rudder during flight.
Primarily a scavenger, they were so common in medieval London they were protected for their role in cleaning streets of carrion.
Nests are unique for being frequently decorated with human rubbish, including rags, plastic, and even stolen clothing.
Represents a major conservation success story, having recovered from near-extinction in the UK through intensive reintroduction programs.
They are opportunistic feeders that will transition from carrion to earthworms or small mammals depending on seasonal availability.

Habitat

Open countryside, mixed woodlands, and farmland with mature trees for nesting and roosting.

Range

Almost exclusively restricted to the Western Palearctic, with core populations in Europe and parts of Northwest Africa.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Black KiteMilvus migrans

Heard a Red 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