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

Fluttering Shearwater

Puffinus gavia

A small, gregarious seabird characterized by its rapid, fluttering flight style and dark-brown upperparts contrasting with white underparts. It is a common sight in the coastal waters of the Southwest Pacific, often forming massive flocks.

What it sounds like

A rapid, rhythmic, and cackling 'ka-how-ka-how-ka-how', typically performed in nocturnal choruses at breeding colonies.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. David Boyle · New ZealandCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Named for its distinctive flight pattern of several rapid, shallow wingbeats followed by a short glide.
Breeds exclusively on offshore islands around New Zealand, nesting in underground burrows.
Highly proficient at pursuit-diving, using its wings to 'fly' underwater to capture small fish and krill.
Often forms massive 'rafts' on the ocean surface that can contain many thousands of individuals.
Distinguishable from the similar Hutton's Shearwater by its whiter underwing coverts and slightly smaller size.

Habitat

Pelagic and coastal marine waters; nests in burrows on forested or scrub-covered offshore islands.

Range

Endemic to New Zealand for breeding; ranges across the Southwest Pacific to eastern and southern Australia.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Balearic ShearwaterPuffinus mauretanicus Bannerman's ShearwaterPuffinus bannermani Barolo ShearwaterPuffinus baroli Black-vented ShearwaterPuffinus opisthomelas Boyd's ShearwaterPuffinus boydi Bryan's ShearwaterPuffinus bryani Christmas ShearwaterPuffinus nativitatis Galapagos ShearwaterPuffinus subalaris

Heard a Fluttering Shearwater?

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