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

Black-footed Albatross

Phoebastria nigripes

The Black-footed Albatross is a large, dusky-plumaged pelagic bird known for its mastery of dynamic soaring across the North Pacific. Unlike most albatrosses, it retains a dark charcoal-brown coloration throughout its life, accented by a white ring at the base of the bill.

What it sounds like

Silent while at sea; at nesting colonies, it produces harsh croaks, groans, high-pitched whistles, and rhythmic, hollow bill-clapping.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 3:30

Rec. david m · United StatesCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is one of only three albatross species that reside primarily in the Northern Hemisphere.
They possess specialized tubular nostrils and salt glands that allow them to drink seawater and excrete excess salt.
Courtship involves elaborate, ritualized 'dances' consisting of synchronized bill-clapping, sky-pointing, and rhythmic vocalizations.
The species is highly susceptible to longline fishing bycatch and the ingestion of floating plastic debris, which is often mistaken for food.
During the breeding season, individuals may fly over 2,000 miles in a single foraging trip to bring food back to their chicks.

Habitat

Pelagic open ocean; nests on remote, low-lying sandy islands and coral atolls.

Range

The North Pacific Ocean, ranging from the Hawaiian archipelago to the coasts of North America and Japan.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Laysan AlbatrossPhoebastria immutabilis Short-tailed AlbatrossPhoebastria albatrus Waved AlbatrossPhoebastria irrorata

Heard a Black-footed Albatross?

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