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

Murphy's Petrel

Pterodroma ultima

A medium-sized, somber-plumaged gadfly petrel known for its uniform sooty-brown coloration and remarkably solitary pelagic lifestyle. It is distinguished by its robust bill and high-speed, arcing flight patterns over the open ocean.

What it sounds like

Silent at sea; on breeding grounds, it produces a series of high-pitched 'ti-ti-ti' notes and squeaky whistles.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:36

Rec. Dr Jennifer Lavers · United KingdomCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Plumage is almost entirely sooty-brown with a subtle pale frosted area around the base of the bill.
Unlike many petrels that nest in deep burrows, this species often nests on the surface or under low vegetation on coral atolls.
It performs some of the longest recorded foraging trips of any seabird, often traveling thousands of kilometers into the North Pacific during the breeding season.
Lacks the distinct dark 'M' pattern on the upperwings that is characteristic of most other Pterodroma species.
Was long considered a rare vagrant in the North Pacific until ship-based surveys revealed it is a regular seasonal visitor to the central and eastern regions.

Habitat

Highly pelagic ocean environments; nests on low-lying tropical atolls and rocky subtropical islands.

Range

Breeds in the South Pacific (Pitcairn, Tuamotu, and Austral Islands) and migrates to the North Pacific during the austral winter.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Atlantic PetrelPterodroma incerta Barau's PetrelPterodroma baraui Bermuda PetrelPterodroma cahow Black-capped PetrelPterodroma hasitata Black-winged PetrelPterodroma nigripennis Bonin PetrelPterodroma hypoleuca Cape Verde PetrelPterodroma feae Chatham Islands PetrelPterodroma axillaris

Heard a Murphy's Petrel?

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