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

Cape Verde Petrel

Pterodroma feae

The Cape Verde Petrel is a medium-sized gadfly petrel endemic to the Cape Verde archipelago, characterized by its grey-and-white plumage and distinctive high-arching flight.

What it sounds like

A series of eerie, mournful moans and rising wails, typically described as 'ooo-er' or 'oo-wick' sounds uttered only at night near breeding colonies.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 8:39

Rec. Nicolas Martinez · Cape VerdeCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It was historically considered conspecific with Zino's Petrel and the Desertas Petrel, forming the 'Soft-plumaged Petrel' complex.
The species nests in high-altitude burrows and rock crevices on volcanic islands, often at elevations exceeding 1,000 meters.
Unlike most Northern Hemisphere seabirds, its breeding cycle occurs during the winter, with egg-laying typically peaking in January.
It is a highly pelagic predator, foraging for cephalopods and small fish over deep oceanic waters far from the continental shelf.
Field identification is exceptionally difficult because it is morphologically nearly identical to the Desertas Petrel, distinguishable primarily by bill dimensions.

Habitat

Pelagic open ocean; nests on steep, high-altitude inland cliffs and volcanic ridges.

Range

Breeds on the Cape Verde Islands (Fogo, Santo Antão, São Nicolau, and Santiago); ranges across the North and Mid-Atlantic.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Atlantic PetrelPterodroma incerta Barau's PetrelPterodroma baraui Bermuda PetrelPterodroma cahow Black-capped PetrelPterodroma hasitata Black-winged PetrelPterodroma nigripennis Bonin PetrelPterodroma hypoleuca Chatham Islands PetrelPterodroma axillaris Collared PetrelPterodroma brevipes

Heard a Cape Verde 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