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

Gray-faced Petrel

Pterodroma gouldi

A large, robust gadfly petrel endemic to New Zealand, distinguished by its dark sooty plumage and contrasting pale grey face.

What it sounds like

A loud, repetitive 'oi-oi-oi' or a whistled 'whi-whi-whi' typically heard at night over breeding colonies.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 3:52

Rec. Jon Davies · New ZealandCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It was previously classified as a subspecies of the Great-winged Petrel (Pterodroma macroptera) but is now recognized as a distinct species.
The species is a winter breeder, with the peak egg-laying period occurring in June and July.
Known to Māori as 'Ōi', it is a culturally significant species traditionally harvested as a 'muttonbird'.
It is primarily a nocturnal forager, feeding on squid, fish, and bioluminescent crustaceans near the ocean surface.
Breeding colonies are found almost exclusively in the North Island of New Zealand and its surrounding offshore islands.

Habitat

Open pelagic waters, nesting in underground burrows on coastal cliffs and forested headlands.

Range

Southwest Pacific Ocean, breeding in New Zealand and ranging across to Australia and South America.

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 Gray-faced Petrel?

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