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

Barau's Petrel

Pterodroma baraui

Barau's Petrel is an endangered medium-sized gadfly petrel endemic to Réunion Island, recognized by its white forehead and dark 'M' wing pattern. It is one of the few seabirds in the world known to nest on high-altitude volcanic peaks.

What it sounds like

A series of high-pitched, rapid 'ti-ti-ti' or cackling 'kek-kek-kek' notes, primarily vocalized at night over breeding colonies.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Daniel Danckwerts · FranceCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It nests at extreme elevations between 2,200 and 2,800 meters above sea level on the volcanic slopes of Piton des Neiges.
The species was not scientifically described until 1964, making it one of the last large seabirds to be discovered.
Fledglings are highly susceptible to light pollution, often becoming disoriented by streetlights during their first flight to the ocean.
It is a highly pelagic species that spends the majority of its life at sea, only returning to land during the nocturnal breeding season.
The total population is estimated at approximately 15,000 to 20,000 breeding pairs, restricted entirely to one island for nesting.

Habitat

Pelagic tropical waters; nests in high-altitude volcanic cliffs and subalpine shrubland.

Range

Endemic breeder on Réunion Island; ranges across the South Indian Ocean to Western Australia and Indonesia.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Atlantic PetrelPterodroma incerta Bermuda PetrelPterodroma cahow Black-capped PetrelPterodroma hasitata Black-winged PetrelPterodroma nigripennis Bonin PetrelPterodroma hypoleuca Cape Verde PetrelPterodroma feae Chatham Islands PetrelPterodroma axillaris Collared PetrelPterodroma brevipes

Heard a Barau's Petrel?

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