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

Herald Petrel

Pterodroma heraldica

The Herald Petrel is a medium-sized, polymorphic gadfly petrel known for its elegant, high-arcing flight across the tropical Pacific. It is a highly pelagic seabird that only visits land to breed on remote oceanic islands and atolls.

What it sounds like

A series of high-pitched, staccato whistling or yapping notes, typically described as 'hi-hi-hi-hi' or 'kek-kek-kek'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:18

Rec. Matthias Feuersenger · New ZealandCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It exhibits three distinct color morphs—light, intermediate, and dark—which can occur within the same breeding colony.
Unlike many other petrel species that are strictly nocturnal at nesting sites, the Herald Petrel is frequently active over colonies during the day.
It was previously considered conspecific with the Trindade Petrel of the Atlantic, but is now recognized as a separate species.
The species nests in diverse environments, ranging from sandy scrapes on low-lying coral atolls to rocky crevices on high volcanic ridges.
A distinctive field mark is the white patch at the base of the primary feathers on the underwing, creating a 'flash' during flight.

Habitat

Pelagic open ocean waters; nests on remote tropical islands, coral atolls, and volcanic cliffs.

Range

Tropical and subtropical South Pacific Ocean, ranging from the Coral Sea to Easter Island.

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 Herald 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