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

Masked Booby

Sula dactylatra

The Masked Booby is the largest species in its genus, distinguished by its stark white plumage, dark flight feathers, and a black facial mask of bare skin.

What it sounds like

Males produce thin, wheezing whistles; females provide loud, raucous honking or quacking sounds.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Alán Palacios · MexicoCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is an obligate siblicide practitioner, meaning the older chick systematically ejects the younger sibling from the nest to ensure its own survival.
The species exhibits extreme sexual dimorphism in vocalizations, with males producing high-pitched whistles and females emitting loud, guttural honks.
It is a highly specialized plunge-diver, hitting the water at high velocities from heights up to 30 meters to capture flying fish and squid.
Unlike the Red-footed Booby, it nests strictly on the ground, favoring open areas on remote islands to facilitate takeoff and landing.
Its 'mask' is actually a patch of hyper-pigmented, featherless skin located around the eyes and at the base of the heavy, serrated bill.

Habitat

Pelagic waters and arid, treeless oceanic islands or coral atolls.

Range

Pantropical distribution across the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans, primarily between 30°N and 30°S latitudes.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Blue-footed BoobySula nebouxii Brown BoobySula leucogaster Cocos BoobySula brewsteri Nazca BoobySula granti Peruvian BoobySula variegata Red-footed BoobySula sula

Heard a Masked Booby?

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