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

Barolo Shearwater

Puffinus baroli

A small, elusive procellariid of the North Atlantic, the Barolo Shearwater is distinguished by its 'clean' white face and rapid, auk-like wingbeats.

What it sounds like

A rhythmic, breathless series of high-pitched cackling notes, often transcribed as 'kwee-kwee-kwee-kwoo'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Rinse van der Vliet · PortugalCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is distinguished from the similar Manx Shearwater by white feathers extending above the eye, creating a bright-faced appearance.
Unlike many larger shearwaters, it has short, rounded wings that necessitate a frantic, flapping flight style rather than long glides.
The species is largely non-migratory, remaining near its Macaronesian breeding grounds throughout the year.
It was historically considered a subspecies of the Little Shearwater (Puffinus assimilis) before being elevated to species status based on genetic and vocal differences.
It is highly nocturnal at breeding colonies, visiting its nesting burrows only under the cover of darkness to avoid predation by gulls.

Habitat

Pelagic open ocean and nesting sites on offshore volcanic islands or steep coastal cliffs.

Range

Endemic to the Macaronesian archipelagos of the North Atlantic, specifically the Azores, Madeira, and the Canary Islands.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Balearic ShearwaterPuffinus mauretanicus Bannerman's ShearwaterPuffinus bannermani Black-vented ShearwaterPuffinus opisthomelas Boyd's ShearwaterPuffinus boydi Bryan's ShearwaterPuffinus bryani Christmas ShearwaterPuffinus nativitatis Fluttering ShearwaterPuffinus gavia Galapagos ShearwaterPuffinus subalaris

Heard a Barolo Shearwater?

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Identify a bird by its song