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 Kite

Elanus leucurus

A medium-sized, elegant raptor characterized by its striking white plumage, black shoulder patches, and unique hovering hunting behavior.

What it sounds like

A high-pitched, thin whistling 'keep-keep-keep' or a raspy, descending 'vlee-ert'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:11

Rec. Cristian Pinto Fernandez · ChileCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Frequently 'kites' or hovers in one spot over open ground while searching for prey.
Its diet consists almost exclusively of small mammals, particularly voles.
Adults possess striking ruby-red irises that contrast with their white and grey feathers.
They are known to form communal roosts during the winter, sometimes containing over 100 individuals.
They use a specialized hunting technique involving a vertical drop with wings held in a high 'V' position.

Habitat

Open grasslands, agricultural fields, savannas, and marshes.

Range

Western United States (primarily California), Texas, and throughout Mexico to South America.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Black-shouldered KiteElanus axillaris Black-winged KiteElanus caeruleus Letter-winged KiteElanus scriptus

Heard a White-tailed Kite?

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