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

Manx Shearwater

Puffinus puffinus

A medium-sized, long-winged seabird known for its remarkable trans-equatorial migrations and graceful gliding flight just above the ocean waves. It is a colonial breeder that spends the majority of its life at sea, returning to land only to nest in underground burrows.

What it sounds like

A rhythmic, haunting series of raucous, guttural croaks and screams, often transcribed as 'it-ti-kak-oo'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 15:48

Rec. David Boyle · United KingdomCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

One individual holds the record for the oldest known wild bird in the UK, reaching at least 55 years of age.
They utilize 'dynamic soaring' to cover vast distances, using the wind shear above waves to minimize energy expenditure.
During the breeding season, they are strictly nocturnal at their colonies to avoid predation by large gulls.
They migrate over 10,000 kilometers annually from the North Atlantic to wintering grounds off the coast of South America.
Manx Shearwaters are highly philopatric, often returning to the exact same nesting burrow and mate for many consecutive years.

Habitat

Pelagic waters and offshore islands with soft soil or rocky crevices for burrowing.

Range

Breeds in the North Atlantic (primarily UK, Ireland, Iceland, and France); winters in the South Atlantic, mainly off Brazil and Argentina.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Balearic ShearwaterPuffinus mauretanicus Bannerman's ShearwaterPuffinus bannermani Barolo ShearwaterPuffinus baroli Black-vented ShearwaterPuffinus opisthomelas Boyd's ShearwaterPuffinus boydi Bryan's ShearwaterPuffinus bryani Christmas ShearwaterPuffinus nativitatis Fluttering ShearwaterPuffinus gavia

Heard a Manx Shearwater?

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Identify a bird by its song