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

Unspotted Saw-whet Owl

Aegolius ridgwayi

A small, secretive owl of high-altitude Central American forests, distinguished from its northern relatives by its solid dark plumage and lack of white crown streaks.

What it sounds like

A rapid, rhythmic series of 6–12 high-pitched, liquid whistles: 'hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:08

Rec. Brendan Sloan · GuatemalaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is the southern-most member of the genus Aegolius, residing exclusively in high-elevation montane regions.
Unlike the Northern Saw-whet Owl, adults possess a uniform chocolate-brown crown and mantle without white spotting.
The species is strictly nocturnal and remains one of the least-studied raptors in the Western Hemisphere.
Juveniles display a striking contrast with deep cinnamon-buff underparts and a dark facial disk.
Its diet is primarily insectivorous, though it also preys on small mammals and amphibians found in the mossy canopy.

Habitat

Humid montane cloud forests, oak forests, and paramo edges, typically above 2,000 meters elevation.

Range

Highlands of Southern Mexico (Chiapas) through Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, and Western Panama.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Bermuda Saw-whet OwlAegolius gradyi Boreal OwlAegolius funereus Buff-fronted OwlAegolius harrisii Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicus

Heard a Unspotted Saw-whet Owl?

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