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

Desertas Petrel

Pterodroma deserta

The Desertas Petrel is a rare, medium-sized gadfly petrel endemic to a single island in the Madeira archipelago, known for its high-speed, dynamic soaring. It is closely related to Fea's and Zino's Petrels but is distinguished by its specific breeding timeline and bill morphology.

What it sounds like

Silent at sea; at colonies, it produces a long, mournful 'ooo-er' whistle followed by a low, rhythmic cackle.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Ben Metzger · PortugalCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Breeding is restricted entirely to a single volcanic plateau on Bugio Island in the Desertas chain.
Unlike the closely related Fea's Petrel, the Desertas Petrel breeds during the summer months, with eggs laid in June.
The species was only recently split from Fea's Petrel based on genetic evidence and distinct vocalizations.
During the non-breeding season, these birds migrate vast distances, often reaching the coast of Brazil and the Gulf Stream.
Conservationists have installed artificial burrows on Bugio Island to protect the population from severe soil erosion and habitat loss.

Habitat

Pelagic waters of the Atlantic; nests in deep earthen burrows on high-altitude volcanic plateaus.

Range

Endemic breeder on Bugio Island (Madeira); widespread across the North and Central Atlantic during dispersal.

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 Cape Verde PetrelPterodroma feae Chatham Islands PetrelPterodroma axillaris

Heard a Desertas Petrel?

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