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

Crested Auklet

Aethia cristatella

A highly social, medium-sized seabird of the North Pacific distinguished by a prominent forward-curving forehead crest and a unique citrus-like plumage scent.

What it sounds like

A series of loud, trumpet-like honks and low-pitched, rhythmic barking sounds.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Ryan P. O'Donnell · United StatesCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

Emit a potent tangerine-like aroma from their feathers used for individual recognition and social signaling.
Possess a distinctive forehead crest that functions as a status signal; larger crests are preferred by mates.
The bright orange-red bill is composed of specialized horny plates that are shed annually after the breeding season.
Engage in 'allopreening' behaviors where they rub their heads and necks against the scented plumage of colony mates.
Nest in massive, dense colonies on remote volcanic islands, with some populations exceeding 100,000 individuals.

Habitat

Coastal volcanic talus slopes and open subarctic marine waters.

Range

Bering Sea and North Pacific Ocean, primarily the Aleutian, Pribilof, and Kuril Islands.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Least AukletAethia pusilla Parakeet AukletAethia psittacula Whiskered AukletAethia pygmaea

Heard a Crested Auklet?

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