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

Slate-colored Hawk

Buteogallus schistaceus

A medium-sized Neotropical raptor characterized by its uniform lead-grey plumage and contrasting bright orange-red facial skin.

What it sounds like

A high-pitched, rapid series of piercing whistling notes that often accelerate in tempo.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 1:29

Rec. Manuel Sánchez-Nivicela · EcuadorCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

Adults possess striking orange-red lores and cere that provide a sharp contrast to their dark slate-colored feathers.
The species' tail is notably short and black, featuring a single, distinctive white median band and a narrow white tip.
It primarily hunts along water edges, specializing in a diet of amphibians, aquatic reptiles, and large invertebrates.
Once classified in the genus Leucopternis, molecular phylogenetic data relocated the species to Buteogallus in the early 2000s.
They are typically solitary and tend to hunt from low perches in the forest understory overlooking oxbow lakes or slow-moving rivers.

Habitat

Humid lowland forests, particularly seasonally flooded Várzea and gallery forests near permanent water sources.

Range

The Amazon Basin of South America, spanning across Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Bolivia, and the Guianas.

Similar & commonly confused birds

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

Heard a Slate-colored Hawk?

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