How accurate is Birdsong's bird identifier?

It runs Google's Perch, a research-grade acoustic model covering nearly 15,000 species. When a call is ambiguous, we say so honestly and let you record a second clip to confirm, rather than guessing.

Is my recording stored?

No. Your audio is used to identify the bird in the moment and isn't saved to our servers. The birds you confirm are kept as cards in your own field journal; the recordings themselves are not.

Is the bird identifier free?

Yes — identify birds every day for free, no account required. Birdsong Pro ($3.99/mo or $39.99/yr) unlocks unlimited IDs, full field guides, your growing collection, and shareable Field Report cards.

Do I need an account or internet to identify a bird?

You'll need a connection to identify, since the AI runs in the cloud. No account is needed to try it — sign in with Google or email to save your field journal and sync it across devices.

Birdsong field guide

Australasian Gannet

Morus serrator

A large, striking seabird characterized by its white plumage, black-tipped wings, and golden-yellow head, renowned for dramatic high-speed plunge-diving. It is a highly social species that forms dense, noisy breeding colonies on coastal islands and mainland cliffs.

What it sounds like

A loud, harsh, and rhythmic 'urrah-urrah' or 'kara-kara' vocalization, most prevalent and chaotic within breeding colonies.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Chris Benesh · New ZealandCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Lacks external nostrils and possesses internal air sacs in the face and chest to cushion the impact of hitting the water at speeds up to 100 km/h.
Equipped with binocular vision that allows for precise depth perception when targeting prey from heights of up to 30 meters.
Juvenile birds undertake a massive trans-Tasman migration, flying from New Zealand to Australia shortly after fledging and remaining there for several years.
Pairs engage in elaborate mutual 'sky-pointing' and 'billing' displays to reinforce social bonds and signal nest ownership.
To facilitate high-speed diving, they have evolved specialized facial skin that allows them to breathe through the corners of their mouths.

Habitat

Temperate marine waters, offshore islands, and steep coastal mainland cliffs.

Range

Southern Australia, New Zealand, and surrounding islands including the Norfolk and Lord Howe groups.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Cape GannetMorus capensis Northern GannetMorus bassanus

Heard a Australasian Gannet?

Open Birdsong, tap record, and identify the bird singing near you in seconds — then collect it in your field journal.

Identify a bird by its song