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

Rufous Crab Hawk

Buteogallus aequinoctialis

A specialized Neotropical raptor primarily found in coastal mangroves, characterized by its striking rufous wing markings and a diet consisting almost exclusively of crabs.

What it sounds like

A high-pitched, rapid series of piercing whistles: 'keee-keee-keee-keee-keee'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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

Field notes

It is a dietary specialist, with crabs—particularly those in the genus Ucides—composing over 90% of its prey consumption.
Unlike many other raptors, it frequently hunts on foot, walking across muddy mangrove flats to extract crabs from their burrows.
Its plumage features distinctive rufous-chestnut edges on the wing coverts, which create a vibrant contrast against its dark chocolate-brown body.
The species is strictly coastal and is rarely encountered more than five kilometers inland from the Atlantic tide line.
It belongs to the 'crab-hawk' lineage within the genus Buteogallus, sharing anatomical adaptations for handling armored crustacean prey.

Habitat

Mangrove swamps, brackish lagoons, and coastal tidal flats.

Range

Atlantic coast of South America, from eastern Venezuela to southern Brazil.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Chaco EagleButeogallus coronatus Common Black HawkButeogallus anthracinus Cuban Black HawkButeogallus gundlachii Great Black HawkButeogallus urubitinga Savanna HawkButeogallus meridionalis Slate-colored HawkButeogallus schistaceus Slate-colored HawkButeogallus schistaceus Solitary EagleButeogallus solitarius

Heard a Rufous Crab Hawk?

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