published

xeno-canto

The xeno-canto API offers developers free access to a comprehensive collection of bird sound recordings and species data, suitable for various applications.

Developed by xeno-canto

Live API
99.70%Uptime
150msLatency
350Stars
No AuthAuth
NoCredit Card
RESTStyle
2Version
API Endpoints

Reference for available routes, request structures, and live examples.

Searches bird sound recordings from around the world

Full Endpoint URL
https://xeno-canto.org/recordings
Implementation Example
curl -X GET 'https://xeno-canto.org/recordings'
Request Payload
{
  "query": "parus major"
}
Expected Response
{
  "recordings": [
    {
      "id": "12345",
      "sp": "major",
      "gen": "Parus",
      "file": "https://xeno-canto.org/12345/download"
    }
  ],
  "numRecordings": "42"
}
Version:2
Real-World Applications
  • Building birdwatching mobile and web applications with audio playbackOptimized Capability
  • Creating educational platforms to help users identify birds by soundOptimized Capability
  • Integrating bird species data into biodiversity and conservation datasetsOptimized Capability
  • Researching avian vocalizations and their geographical patternsOptimized Capability
  • Developing environmental monitoring tools using bird sound metadataOptimized Capability
Advantages
  • ✓ Completely free and publicly accessible with no authentication required
  • ✓ Extensive global database covering thousands of bird species and recordings
  • ✓ Simple REST API returning easy-to-consume JSON data
  • ✓ Supports multiple query parameters like species, location, and contributor
  • ✓ Ideal for educational, research, and conservation application development
Limitations
  • ✗ No official SDKs available; developers build integrations manually
  • ✗ Lacks documented rate limits which may lead to usage uncertainty
  • ✗ API responses can vary in data completeness due to user-submitted content
  • ✗ No authentication means limited access control and monitoring
  • ✗ No built-in audio streaming; developers must handle media retrieval

FAQs

API Specifications

2
Pricing Model
Free
Credit Card
Not Required
Response Formats
JSON
Supported Languages
6 Languages
SDK Support
REST Only
Time to Hello World

Less than 30 minutes to start making API calls

Rate Limit

No documented rate limits; fair use policy applies

Free Tier Usage

Full access to all API endpoints with unlimited usage subject to fair use

Use Case: Best For

Ornithologists, birdwatching app developers, educators, conservationists

Not Recommended For

Enterprise-level research requiring guaranteed SLAs or commercial licensing

Resources

Documentation Official Website Pricing Details Postman Collection
#birds#audio

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