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 Owlet

Athene brama

A small, stocky owl common across tropical Asia, easily identified by its white-spotted grey-brown plumage and lack of ear tufts. It is highly adaptable to human environments and is frequently active during the day and twilight hours.

What it sounds like

A loud, harsh series of chattering screeches and cackles, often described as 'chirurrr-chirurrr-chirurrr' followed by chuckles.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:24

Rec. Peter Ericsson · ThailandCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

When disturbed, these owlets perform a characteristic bobbing or swaying motion with their heads to better judge distance.
Unlike many owl species, they are often found in pairs or small family groups that huddle closely together while roosting.
Their diet is primarily insectivorous, focusing on beetles and crickets, though they also take small rodents and lizards.
They are opportunistic nesters, utilizing tree hollows, cavities in buildings, and even holes in vertical earth banks.
The species is known for its undulating flight pattern, consisting of several rapid wing beats followed by a short glide.

Habitat

Open or semi-open areas including farmlands, urban gardens, groves, and deciduous forests.

Range

Mainland South Asia and parts of Southeast Asia, ranging from Iran through India to Vietnam.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Burrowing OwlAthene cunicularia Forest OwletAthene blewitti Guadalcanal OwlAthene granti Little OwlAthene noctua Makira OwlAthene roseoaxillaris Malaita OwlAthene malaitae West Solomons OwlAthene jacquinoti White-browed OwlAthene superciliaris

Heard a Spotted Owlet?

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Identify a bird by its song