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

White-tailed Hawk

Geranoaetus albicaudatus

The White-tailed Hawk is a large, broad-winged raptor of open tropical and subtropical landscapes, easily identified by its rufous shoulder patches and short white tail with a black subterminal band.

What it sounds like

A high-pitched, stuttering cackle often described as 'ke-ke-ke-ke-ke' or resembling the bleating of a goat.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:21

Rec. Robson Silva e Silva · BrazilCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is famously attracted to grass fires, where it hovers near the smoke to snatch small animals fleeing the flames.
Adults exhibit a distinctive 'rocking' flight style, often holding their wings in a high V-shape or dihedral while soaring.
It takes approximately three years to transition from its dark juvenile plumage to its characteristic white and gray adult feathers.
While an adept aerial hunter, it is one of the few large hawks that frequently hunts on foot to flush out insects and small vertebrates.
The northernmost tip of its breeding range is strictly limited to the coastal prairies and thorn scrub of Texas.

Habitat

Open grasslands, coastal prairies, savannas, and scrublands with scattered tall trees or shrubs for nesting.

Range

Coastal Texas and Mexico south through Central and South America to central Argentina.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Black-chested Buzzard-EagleGeranoaetus melanoleucus Variable HawkGeranoaetus polyosoma

Heard a White-tailed Hawk?

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