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

Spotted Owl

Strix occidentalis

A medium-sized nocturnal owl of the western Americas, distinguished by its dark eyes and white spots on deep brown plumage. It serves as a key indicator species for the health of old-growth forest ecosystems.

What it sounds like

A rhythmic four-note series of high-pitched hoots or barks, often described as 'who-who-who-who'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

No reference call found yet · Xeno-canto

Field notes

They are strictly monogamous and typically maintain the same mate and territory for their entire lives.
Unlike many birds, they do not build nests, instead utilizing natural tree cavities or abandoned raptor platforms.
The invasive Barred Owl is a primary threat, outcompeting them for territory and occasionally interbreeding.
Their diet consists almost exclusively of nocturnal arboreal mammals like flying squirrels and woodrats.
They are highly sensitive to temperature and rely on the cool microclimates of dense forest canopies to thermoregulate.

Habitat

Mature, multi-layered old-growth coniferous or mixed-evergreen forests.

Range

Pacific Northwest, California, and the Southwestern United States into central Mexico.

Similar & commonly confused birds

African Wood-OwlStrix woodfordii Barred OwlStrix varia Black-and-white OwlStrix nigrolineata Black-banded OwlStrix huhula Brown Wood-OwlStrix leptogrammica Chaco OwlStrix chacoensis Cinereous OwlStrix sartorii Desert OwlStrix hadorami

Heard a Spotted Owl?

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