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

Steller's Sea-Eagle

Haliaeetus pelagicus

The Steller's Sea-Eagle is one of the world's largest and most powerful raptors, characterized by its massive yellow beak and striking black-and-white plumage. It is a specialized predator primarily found along the icy coasts and rivers of Northeast Asia.

What it sounds like

A series of deep, barking 'kyow-kyow-kyow' notes or guttural, gull-like croaks.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Melissa Hafting · CanadaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is the heaviest eagle species on Earth, with large females weighing up to 9 kilograms (20 pounds).
The species possesses the largest beak of any eagle, a deeply arched and bright yellow tool evolved for tearing through large fish.
Adults are easily identified by their diagnostic wedge-shaped white tail and prominent white 'shoulders' or wing coverts.
They are primarily piscivorous, with a diet heavily dependent on salmon during the breeding season and cod or pollock in winter.
The species is currently listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN, with a global population estimated at only a few thousand individuals.

Habitat

Coastal cliffs, wooded river valleys, and sea-ice floes.

Range

Breeds in the Kamchatka Peninsula and coastal Russia; winters primarily in Hokkaido, Japan, and the Kuril Islands.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalus Pallas's Fish-EagleHaliaeetus leucoryphus White-tailed EagleHaliaeetus albicilla

Heard a Steller's Sea-Eagle?

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