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-tailed Hawk

Buteo jamaicensis

The Red-tailed Hawk is a large, adaptable Buteo commonly seen soaring over open fields or perched on roadside poles throughout North America.

What it sounds like

A hoarse, descending scream described as 'kkee-ee-rr'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:04

Rec. Rory Nefdt · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Most adults are distinguished by a signature brick-red upper tail, often with a narrow dark terminal band.
Their high-pitched, rasping scream is the 'standard' sound effect used in cinema for almost all raptors, including Bald Eagles.
They possess a distinct dark 'patagial mark' on the leading edge of the underwing between the shoulder and wrist.
Plumage is highly polymorphic, ranging from very pale 'Krider’s' types to nearly black morphs in the western populations.
Courting pairs perform spectacular aerial displays, sometimes locking talons and spiraling toward the ground before pulling away.

Habitat

Open country, woodlots, agricultural fields, grasslands, and increasingly urban areas.

Range

Widespread across North America, from central Alaska and Canada south to Panama and the West Indies.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Augur BuzzardButeo augur Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterus Common BuzzardButeo buteo Eastern BuzzardButeo japonicus Ferruginous HawkButeo regalis Forest BuzzardButeo trizonatus Galapagos HawkButeo galapagoensis Gray HawkButeo plagiatus

Heard a Red-tailed Hawk?

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