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  4. xeno-canto Bird Audio API
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xeno-canto Bird Audio API

The xeno-canto Bird Audio API provides developers with free and open access to over 900,000 bird sound recordings, ideal for ornithology and educational applications.

Developed by xeno-canto Foundation

Live API
99.70%Uptime
150msLatency
180Stars
No AuthAuth
NoCredit Card
RESTStyle
2Version

Reference

API Endpoints

Endpoints

Available routes, request structures, and code examples.

Searches bird sound recordings from around the world

Endpoint URL
https://xeno-canto.org/recordings
Code 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

Integration

Quick Start

cURL ExampleREST
curl -X GET "https://xeno-canto.org/api/2/api/2/recordings?query=Cardinalis+cardinalis"

Docs

Technical Documentation

What this API does

The xeno-canto Bird Audio API allows developers to access a wide range of over 900,000 bird sound recordings. It enables searches by species name, country, recording quality, and contributor information through RESTful JSON endpoints. The API is designed for seamless integration into various applications, including ornithology tools, educational platforms, and research projects.

How it works

Developers interact with the API via HTTP requests to retrieve audio files and associated metadata. The API supports various queries making it straightforward to access relevant bird sound files based on specific criteria. All data is returned in JSON format, facilitating easy integration with frontend and backend technologies.

Authentication

No authentication is required to use the xeno-canto Bird Audio API. Developers can directly access all available endpoints without needing API keys or signup procedures, allowing for immediate use.

Example usage

  • /api/recordings?query=species:Cardinal - Retrieves recordings for the Cardinal species.
  • /api/recordings?country=US - Lists recordings from the United States.
  • /api/recordings?quality=high - Searches for recordings with high-quality audio.

Limits

Ideal use cases

  • Integrating bird sound features in mobile applications.
  • Creating educational tools for bird identification.
  • Driving research initiatives in ornithology.
  • Building collaborative projects for environmental science.

Examples

Real-World Applications

  • Developing birdwatching and ornithology mobile or web applications
  • Creating educational platforms that teach wildlife and bird conservation
  • Integrating bird audio data into environmental monitoring and research tools
  • Building interfaces for analyzing and classifying bird calls acoustically

Evaluation

Advantages & Limitations

Advantages
  • ✓ Free and open access without signup or API keys
  • ✓ Extensive database with over 900,000 recordings worldwide
  • ✓ High-quality MP3 downloads under Creative Commons license
  • ✓ Simple RESTful JSON interface compatible with many programming languages
Limitations
  • ✗ No official SDKs currently available
  • ✗ Lacks advanced filtering options like date ranges or exact recording times
  • ✗ No built-in support for audio streaming or large audio file delivery optimization
  • ✗ Limited metadata in some recordings depending on contributor input

Support

Frequently Asked Questions

Important Notice

Verify Before You Decide

Last verified · Apr 30, 2026

The details on this page — including pricing, features, and availability — are based on our last review and may not reflect the provider's current offering. Providers update their products frequently, sometimes without prior notice.

What may have changed

Pricing Plans
Features & Limits
Availability
Terms & Policies

Always visit the official provider website to confirm the latest pricing, terms, and feature availability before subscribing or integrating.

Check official site

External Resources

Documentation Official Website Pricing Details Postman Collection

API Specifications

2
Pricing Model
Free
Credit Card
Not Required
Response Formats
JSON
Supported Languages
6 Languages
SDK Support
REST Only
Rate Limit

Unlimited

Time to Hello World

Under 10 minutes

Free Tier

Full access to all API endpoints with unlimited requests and downloads, no signup required.

Best For

Developers building bird identification apps, educational tools, and biodiversity research software

Not Ideal For

Applications requiring commercial licensing or advanced audio processing features

Tags

#bioacoustics#xeno-canto#nature#research#no-auth#free-api#wildlife#birds#audio

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