Overview
BirdCall-Extractor is a simple Windows utility for extracting short WAV clips from larger WAV recordings. It is particularly useful alongside BirdNET workflows, where a detection record gives an offset in whole seconds from the start of a WAV file and a short clip is needed for human verification.
The utility can be used with any WAV file — the source file does not need to follow a special naming convention.
Installation
- Install the BirdCall-Extractor kit from the Downloads page
- Run BirdCall-Extractor by clicking on the desktop "green bird" icon
How to Use
- Select a single WAV file when prompted
- Enter the offset in whole seconds from the start of the recording
- Enter the required clip length in whole seconds, or press Enter to accept the default of 9 seconds
- The extracted WAV clip is written to the same folder as the original file
The offset should normally come from the BirdNET-Analyzer detection record for the source WAV file.
Prompt Help
The prompts follow the same style as BirdNET-Runner. Enter ? at any prompt to show contextual help, an explanation of the expected value, and an example.
The default clip length is 9 seconds. Press Enter at the clip length prompt to accept this default.
Input WAV Files
BirdCall-Extractor works with any WAV file. If the source file happens to use the older recorder naming format:
<recorder-name>_YYYYMMDD_HHMMSS[T].wav
the tool may display the derived recording start time for information, but this is not required for extraction.
Output File Naming
Extracted clips are automatically named as:
<source-filename-without-extension>_<offset>_<length>.wav
where <offset> is the offset in whole seconds and <length> is the clip length in whole seconds.
Example:
SM26173AC_20260421_053000_93_9.wav
File Length Checking
BirdCall-Extractor checks the source WAV duration before extraction:
- If the offset is beyond the end of the file, the utility warns you and loops back to ask for a new offset
- If the offset is valid but the offset plus clip length would run beyond the end of the file, the utility warns you and offers to shorten the clip to the remaining available duration
FFmpeg
BirdCall-Extractor bundles its own private copies of ffmpeg.exe and ffprobe.exe, so you do not need to install FFmpeg separately or modify your Windows PATH.
Compatibility
- Windows 10/11
- PowerShell 5.1
- Single WAV file selection
- Suitable for large wildlife recordings