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

Horned Puffin

Fratercula corniculata

The Horned Puffin is a striking North Pacific seabird characterized by its massive orange-and-yellow bill and small, dark 'horns' above its eyes during the breeding season.

What it sounds like

Generally silent at sea; at nesting colonies, it produces low, guttural growls and raspy 'arr-arr-arr' sounds.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:34

Rec. Andrew Spencer · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It possesses small, fleshy black spikes above each eye that extend upward during the breeding season, giving the species its name.
Unlike many other puffin species, it typically nests in deep rock crevices or among boulders rather than excavating earthen burrows.
The colorful outer sheath of its bill is shed annually after the breeding season, revealing a significantly smaller and duller beak for the winter months.
They are exceptional divers that use their wings to 'fly' underwater, reaching depths of over 100 feet to capture forage fish.
A specialized palate with backward-pointing spines allows them to hold dozens of small fish in their beak at once while continuing to hunt.

Habitat

Rocky sea cliffs, offshore islands, and open pelagic waters.

Range

North Pacific Ocean, ranging from the coasts of Alaska and British Columbia to Siberia and northern Japan.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Atlantic PuffinFratercula arctica Tufted PuffinFratercula cirrhata

Heard a Horned Puffin?

Open Birdsong, tap record, and identify the bird singing near you in seconds — then collect it in your field journal.

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