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

Least Auklet

Aethia pusilla

The Least Auklet is the smallest of all alcids, a diminutive and highly social seabird that congregates in massive, dense colonies on remote volcanic islands.

What it sounds like

A high-pitched, metallic chattering and whistling series of trills.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:10

Rec. Steve Hampton · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is considered the most abundant seabird in North America, with a population numbering in the millions.
During the breeding season, these birds emit a potent, citrus-like scent from their feathers that is often compared to tangerines.
They possess a specialized sublingual pouch under the tongue used to transport concentrated zooplankton back to their chicks.
Unlike many other alcids that dig burrows, they nest deep within the natural crevices of rocky talus slopes.
Their plumage exhibits high polymorphism, appearing in light, intermediate, and dark morphs based on the density of breast streaking.

Habitat

Open subarctic oceans and rocky volcanic talus slopes for nesting.

Range

Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands, and Sea of Okhotsk.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Crested AukletAethia cristatella Parakeet AukletAethia psittacula Whiskered AukletAethia pygmaea

Heard a Least Auklet?

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