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

Jouanin's Petrel

Bulweria fallax

A medium-sized, enigmatic dark gadfly petrel of the northwest Indian Ocean, closely resembling a larger and sturdier version of the Bulwer's Petrel.

What it sounds like

Typically silent at sea; at colonies, it produces a rapid, rhythmic series of hollow 'whoo-whoo-whoo' hooting or barking notes.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

No reference call found yet · Xeno-canto

Field notes

The species was only scientifically described in 1955 by Christian Jouanin, significantly later than most other pelagic seabirds.
Its breeding grounds remained a mystery to science until 1999, when they were finally confirmed on the Socotra Archipelago.
It is distinguished from the similar Bulwer's Petrel by its heavier bill, larger size, and the absence of pale carpal bars on the wings.
The bird is primarily nocturnal at its breeding colonies to minimize predation risks from gulls and other opportunistic hunters.
It is currently listed as Near Threatened due to its extremely restricted breeding range and vulnerability to invasive predators.

Habitat

Pelagic waters of the open ocean; nests in deep rock crevices on steep mountain cliffs and inland scree slopes.

Range

Northwest Indian Ocean, concentrated in the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and Gulf of Aden.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Bulwer's PetrelBulweria bulwerii Small St. Helena PetrelBulweria bifax

Heard a Jouanin's Petrel?

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