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

European Storm-Petrel

Hydrobates pelagicus

The European Storm-Petrel is a diminutive, soot-black pelagic bird recognized by its square white rump and distinctive fluttering, bat-like flight across the ocean surface.

What it sounds like

Silent at sea; at breeding sites, it emits a sustained, rhythmic purring 'arrr-r-r-r' ending in a sharp, abrupt 'chikka'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 5:23

Rec. David Boyle · United KingdomCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is the smallest seabird in the North Atlantic, weighing approximately the same as a House Sparrow.
The name 'petrel' is a reference to Saint Peter, inspired by the bird's habit of 'walking' on the water's surface while foraging.
To avoid predation by gulls and skuas, they are strictly nocturnal when visiting their breeding colonies.
Despite their fragile appearance, they are remarkably long-lived, with some individuals recorded reaching over 30 years of age.
They possess a highly developed sense of smell, which they use to locate food sources and navigate to their specific nesting burrows in total darkness.

Habitat

Pelagic open ocean during the non-breeding season; nests in rocky crevices, burrows, or stone walls on remote offshore islands.

Range

Breeds in the Northeast Atlantic and Mediterranean; winters primarily along the western and southern coasts of Africa.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Ainley's Storm-PetrelHydrobates cheimomnestes Ashy Storm-PetrelHydrobates homochroa Band-rumped Storm-PetrelHydrobates castro Black Storm-PetrelHydrobates melania Cape Verde Storm-PetrelHydrobates jabejabe Fork-tailed Storm-PetrelHydrobates furcatus Guadalupe Storm-PetrelHydrobates macrodactylus Leach's Storm-PetrelHydrobates leucorhous

Heard a European Storm-Petrel?

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