Elliot Kim
Identifying birds by their calls and songs is a challenging task, even for seasoned bird watchers. However, recent technological advancements have made it possible to identify birds by converting sound recordings into visual spectrograms, which can then be matched to a specific bird species. This sound-identification technology is now integrated into popular apps such as BirdNET and Merlin Bird ID, which can identify thousands of bird species from North America, Europe, and beyond. These innovative tools are not only useful for bird enthusiasts but also for researchers, conservationists, and biologists working to monitor and protect bird populations worldwide.
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What You'll Learn
Bird identification apps
There are several bird identification apps that can help you identify a bird species from its sound. Here are some options:
Merlin Bird ID
Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab is a popular app that helps users identify birds they see and hear. It is powered by eBird, the world's largest database of bird sightings, sounds, and photos. Merlin offers four ways to identify birds: answering simple questions, uploading a photo, recording a singing bird, or exploring birds by region. The app provides expert ID tips, range maps, photos, and sounds to help users learn about different bird species. It also offers a personalized "Bird of the Day" feature and customized lists of birds specific to the user's location or travel destination. While Merlin has been praised for its sound identification feature, some users have noted that it is not perfect and may require manual verification of questionable matches.
BirdNET Sound ID
BirdNET is a research platform and citizen science initiative by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology that aims to recognize birds by sound. It is available as a smartphone app and a website. BirdNET utilizes machine learning and artificial neural networks to identify bird species in recorded audio files. The platform supports various hardware and operating systems, including smartphones, web browsers, and workstation PCs. BirdNET can currently identify around 3,000 of the world's most common bird species.
Bird Sound Identifier Bird ID
The Bird Sound Identifier Bird ID app allows users to record a bird's song or upload a photo to identify the bird species. It claims to identify over 10,000 bird species with precision. The app provides comprehensive information about the species, including curated bird photos for enhanced identification. It offers a user-friendly interface suitable for birdwatchers, students, and parents educating their children about birds. However, one user review mentions an issue with loud commercials interrupting the identification process.
In addition to these apps, there are other bird identification tools and communities mentioned online, such as the Chirp! USA game and the r/birding community on Reddit. Each app and platform has its own strengths and features, so users can explore and choose the ones that best suit their needs and interests.
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Bird songs in the UK
Birds use song to attract mates and defend their territories. There are many common and distinct bird songs in the UK, and they can be heard in parks, gardens, and the countryside.
One of the most easily recognised songs is the robin's, which is a clear and beautiful sequence of rippling notes and whistles. Robins are one of the few birds that sing all through the winter, and they start early in the morning. The dunnock, a slightly understated bird, has a sweet, high-pitched, twiddling melody given in short verses. Dunnocks sing from prominent perches, and their song is one of the finest in the dawn chorus. The chiffchaff's song is also easily recognised, with a repetitive "chiff chaff, chiff chaff, chiff chaff", sometimes with an extra note.
The song thrush has one of the easier songs to identify. It has a varied repertoire, but it repeats each short phrase up to three times before moving on to a new one, which no other common birds do. Its notes are confident, powerful, and less mellow than those of a blackbird. The blackbird's song is low-pitched and given in short, fluty verses that seem to stop abruptly. Mistle thrushes have a similar song, but it trails off rather than ending abruptly.
The wood pigeon's song is a low-pitched coo with a five-note structure, in the rhythm of 'I DON'T want-to-go, I DON'T want-to-go'. This is the UK's most common pigeon, and you will often hear the loud, clattering sound of its wings when it takes flight.
Goldfinches have a light and twittering song, with rapid notes that seem to tumble out. Greenfinches are similar but bolder, with a distinctive wheezing sound. Chaffinches also have a tumbling series of notes, followed by a flourish at the end. For such a small bird, the wren has an incredibly loud song. It's a high-pitched series of whistles with a rolling rattle towards the end.
Long-tailed tits are becoming more common in UK gardens, especially in winter. They rarely sing, but when they do, it might sound like 'see-see-see'. Jackdaws, on the other hand, have a range of calls, from a hard staccato 'tchack' or 'jack' to a slow persistent squawk.
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Bird calls in North America
Bird calls and songs are a natural soundtrack, and learning to identify them is a rewarding way to connect with nature. North America is home to a diverse range of bird species, each with its own unique vocalizations.
The Mourning Dove, for instance, has a soft, cooing song, often mistaken for an owl's hoot. The Northern Flicker, a member of the woodpecker family, has an even-toned song that resembles laughter. The Black-capped Chickadee, the official state bird of Massachusetts, has a distinctive "chickadee-dee-dee" call, as well as a two- or three-note whistle similar to the Eastern Phoebe, a small, grayish-brown bird found in eastern North America.
Some birds have songs that are truly musical. The Wood Thrush, found in the eastern United States, has a flute-like trill, considered one of the most beautiful songs of any North American bird. The Yellow Warbler's springtime song is cheerful and memorable, often described as "sweet, sweet, sweet, I'm so sweet." The Western Meadowlark, found in the western and upper Midwest, has a rich, flute-like song spanning a wide range of notes.
Other birds have more unusual calls. The American Bittern, found across North America, has a series of drip-like sounds, earning it nicknames like "thunder-pumper" and "belcher-squelcher." The Northern Mockingbird, the official state bird of five states, is an intelligent imitator, singing throughout the year, day and night.
Bird calls and songs are not just pleasant to hear but also serve important functions, such as wooing mates and claiming territories.
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Birding by ear
Start Listening for Songs and Calls: The first step is to simply pay attention to the bird songs and calls around you. Take time to observe and listen to birds in your environment. With repeated exposure, you will begin to recognize and remember the vocalizations of common bird species.
Learn Common Bird Sounds: Focus on learning the most common types of bird sounds first. This includes understanding the difference between bird songs and calls. Songs are typically longer and more complex vocalizations used for breeding and territory defence, while calls are shorter and used for a variety of purposes such as courtship, distress, or gathering the flock.
Connect Noises with Mental Pictures: One effective way to remember bird sounds is to associate them with memorable images or phrases. For example, the Eastern Bluebird's song may be remembered as "cheer cheerful charmer". These mental connections can help you recall specific bird vocalizations more easily.
Familiarize Yourself with Local Birds: Get to know the bird species that are commonly found in your neighbourhood or region. Learning the songs and calls of local birds will make it easier to identify them by ear. Field guides, birdwatching apps, and online resources can help you determine which species are most prevalent in your area.
Use Spectrograms and Sonograms: Spectrograms and sonograms are visual representations of bird sounds, displaying sound patterns by pitch and length. While they may take some time to interpret, these tools can aid in learning bird vocalizations. Some birdwatching apps and field guides utilize spectrograms to help users identify bird songs and calls.
Explore Birding Apps and Tools: Take advantage of the many birding apps and tools available to assist with bird identification. Apps like Merlin Bird ID, BirdNET Sound ID, and Larkwire offer innovative ways to identify birds by sound. These apps often use machine learning and artificial intelligence to analyze bird sounds and provide identification assistance.
By following these steps and practicing regularly, you can gradually improve your ability to identify birds by ear. Birding by ear is a rewarding skill that deepens your connection with nature and enhances your understanding of the avian world.
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Birding with AI
Birding has become increasingly accessible and innovative with the advent of AI. AI tools have been developed to identify bird species based on their unique songs and calls, revolutionising the way people connect with and understand the natural world around them. One such tool is Merlin Bird ID, an app that offers a comprehensive suite of identification methods, including Sound ID, Photo ID, and interactive questionnaires. Merlin's Sound ID leverages advanced image classification algorithms to convert sound recordings into spectrograms, enabling the visualisation of volume, pitch, and duration. This breakthrough allows for accurate identification of bird species, even in recordings with multiple species, and has been made possible by contributions from citizen scientists.
BirdNET is another powerful AI platform that employs artificial neural networks to identify bird sounds. BirdNET's research focus is on the detection and classification of avian sounds, aiming to assist experts and citizen scientists in monitoring and protecting bird populations. The platform supports a range of devices, from smartphones to workstations, and provides analysis software for large audio collections. BirdNET's artificial neural network is trained on thousands of bird calls and songs, enabling it to identify species in North America and Europe, with plans to expand globally.
These AI tools offer birding enthusiasts, researchers, and conservationists alike an unprecedented ability to identify and study bird species. They enhance our connection to nature, facilitate the documentation of bird behaviour, and contribute to conservation efforts. For example, BirdNET was used to identify a Northern Hawk Owl in Alaska based on a recorded owl call. Additionally, AI-powered identification can aid in monitoring bird populations and their habitats, informing conservation strategies and ensuring the protection of our feathered friends.
While these tools are impressive, it's important to remember their limitations. Bird song identification can be challenging for both humans and machines, especially with similar calls or excessive background noise. As a result, it's always recommended to verify identifications by observing the bird and its behaviour directly. Nonetheless, AI-assisted birding is an exciting development, empowering enthusiasts and experts alike to explore and protect the fascinating world of birds.
As AI technology continues to advance, we can expect even more innovative features and improvements in birding applications. The future of birding with AI holds promise for enhanced accuracy, expanded global coverage, and perhaps even real-time identification and analysis of bird behaviour, all contributing to a deeper understanding and appreciation of our avian companions.
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Frequently asked questions
You can use a bird identification app such as BirdNET, Merlin Bird ID, or Bird Sound Identifier Bird ID. These apps allow you to record a bird's song and will then provide you with information about the likely bird species. Alternatively, you can compare the recording to the songs and calls in audio libraries such as Merlin or Macaulay Library.
Common bird songs vary depending on your location. In the UK, common bird songs include the song thrush, blackbird, and mistle thrush. Robins, wrens, and dunnocks also have distinctive songs. In North America, common birds include the Blackpoll Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, and Cedar Waxwing.
Learning to identify bird calls is a matter of practice and familiarity. You can start by learning the common bird species and their calls in your area. Using bird identification apps or audio libraries can help you build associations between bird songs and the species. Over time, you may be able to identify birds based on sound alone.
When using bird identification apps, it's important to ensure good recording quality. External microphones can help improve the recording. Additionally, some apps, like Merlin Bird ID, allow you to filter birds by location or time of year, which can narrow down the possible matches. It's also a good idea to verify the identification by finding the bird and observing it.
