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

Northern Gannet

Morus bassanus

The Northern Gannet is a large, elegant seabird renowned for its high-speed plunge-diving and bright white plumage with black wingtips. It is the largest member of the gannet family and a dominant predator of the North Atlantic's open waters.

What it sounds like

A loud, harsh, and rhythmic 'urrah-urrah' or 'rah-rah-rah' used primarily for communication within dense breeding colonies.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:43

Rec. Kelle Moreau · BelgiumCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

They hit the water at speeds up to 100 km/h (60 mph) by streamlining their bodies into an arrow shape during a dive.
Specialized subcutaneous air sacs in the face and chest act as airbags to cushion the impact of high-velocity water entry.
They lack external nostrils, an evolutionary adaptation that prevents water from being forced into the respiratory tract.
Their eyes are positioned forward for binocular vision, allowing them to accurately judge distance to prey from heights of 30 meters.
Breeding pairs are typically monogamous and perform elaborate 'sky-pointing' and 'billing' rituals to reinforce pair bonds.

Habitat

Steep coastal cliffs and rocky islands for nesting; pelagic (open ocean) environments for foraging.

Range

North Atlantic, breeding along the coasts of North America and Europe and wintering south to the Gulf of Mexico and Northwest Africa.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Australasian GannetMorus serrator Cape GannetMorus capensis

Heard a Northern Gannet?

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