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 Shearwater

Calonectris edwardsii

A medium-sized, slender-billed pelagic seabird endemic to the Cape Verde archipelago, formerly considered a subspecies of Cory's Shearwater.

What it sounds like

A harsh, nasal, rhythmic cackling or wailing sound, typically performed in chorus at the breeding colony during the night.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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

Field notes

Distinguished from the similar Cory's Shearwater by its smaller size, darker plumage, and a more slender, grayish-pink bill with a dark tip.
Breeds in colonies located in rocky crevices, burrows, or under boulders on offshore islets and coastal cliffs.
Highly migratory, traveling south after the breeding season to wintering grounds off the coast of Brazil and West Africa.
Feeds primarily on small fish, squid, and crustaceans obtained through surface-seizing or shallow pursuit-plunging.
Currently classified as Near Threatened due to its restricted breeding range and vulnerability to invasive predators and longline fishing.

Habitat

Pelagic marine environments during the non-breeding season; volcanic islands and rocky cliffs for nesting.

Range

Breeds exclusively in the Cape Verde Islands; ranges widely across the Atlantic Ocean.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Cory's ShearwaterCalonectris borealis Scopoli's ShearwaterCalonectris diomedea Streaked ShearwaterCalonectris leucomelas

Heard a Cape Verde Shearwater?

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

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