BirdNET

What is BirdNET

BirdNET is a specialized research platform developed jointly by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the Chemnitz University of Technology. Unlike general birding apps, BirdNET focuses exclusively on bioacoustics—the study of animal sounds. It utilizes deep learning neural networks to treat bird sounds as visual data (spectrograms), allowing computers to identify species by their unique vocal signatures with remarkable accuracy.

How does BirdNET work

BirdNET operates by analyzing audio recordings. When a user records a sound via the app or website, the system generates a spectrogram—a visual representation of the sound wave. The AI scans this spectrogram for patterns that match known bird calls in its database. It then highlights specific segments of the audio file and provides a probability score (e.g., 'confident' or 'uncertain') for the species identified within that specific timeframe.

Benefits of BirdNET

BirdNET is particularly beneficial for scientific monitoring and identifying birds in dense environments where they cannot be seen. It serves as a bridge between professional research and citizen science, allowing users to contribute to a global understanding of bird vocalizations. It is also capable of analyzing long audio files, making it useful for passive monitoring stations.

Pros and Cons of BirdNET

Pros

• Scientific Precision: Displays the confidence level of every ID.
• Visual Analysis: Shows the spectrogram so users can 'see' the sound.
• Continuous Recording: Can record for long periods to capture sporadic calls.
• Research Oriented: Directly contributes to bioacoustic training models.

Cons

• Audio Only: Does not identify birds by photos.
• Technical Interface: Less polished and 'gamified' than consumer apps like Merlin.
• Requires Clear Audio: Wind and background noise can significantly hamper results.

Core Features of BirdNET

Real-Time Spectrogram Visualizes sound frequencies as they happen, helping users isolate specific bird calls from background noise.

Confidence Intervals Provides a likelihood score for every identification, reflecting the scientific nature of the tool.

Submission for Science Users can submit their recordings to help train the AI model, improving future accuracy for everyone.

Global Soundscape Analysis Capable of processing diverse soundscapes from North America and Europe to measure biodiversity.

Use Cases of BirdNET

• Researchers: Setting up passive recorders to monitor species presence over days.
• Birders: Identifying a bird calling from deep within a thicket or forest canopy.
• Educators: Teaching students how to read spectrograms and understand sound frequencies.

FAQs of BirdNET

How is this different from Merlin? Merlin is a field guide for general users; BirdNET is a specialized acoustic research tool. BirdNET often powers the technology inside Merlin.

Is it free? Yes, BirdNET is a free research project.

Can I upload old recordings? Yes, the web version allows you to upload pre-recorded audio files for analysis.

How to use BirdNET

1. Open App/Site: Launch the BirdNET app or navigate to the analysis page.
2. Record: Press the microphone button to start capturing audio.
3. Select: Drag your finger over the specific part of the spectrogram where the bird sang.
4. Analyze: Tap the analyze button to send that snippet to the AI.
5. View Results: Read the predicted species and confidence score.