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

Parakeet Auklet

Aethia psittacula

The Parakeet Auklet is a stocky North Pacific alcid characterized by its unique circular, orange bill and single white facial plume. It is a specialized feeder that primarily targets gelatinous zooplankton in subarctic waters.

What it sounds like

A rhythmic, high-pitched vibrating trill or whinny, often compared to the sound of a distant cicada.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:07

Rec. Ryan P. O'Donnell · United StatesCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

It possesses a specialized, upturned lower mandible used to pluck jellyfish and siphonophores from the water column.
Unlike most other auklets, it tends to nest in solitary pairs or small, loose clusters rather than massive, dense colonies.
It is the only member of the genus Aethia that lacks a forehead crest during the breeding season.
During the winter months, it becomes highly pelagic, dispersing far into the open North Pacific Ocean.
The species is known for its 'shering' behavior, where it uses its wings to 'fly' underwater while foraging at depths of up to 30 meters.

Habitat

Breeds on rocky coastal cliffs and talus slopes; winters in deep pelagic waters.

Range

North Pacific Ocean, including the Bering Sea and Sea of Okhotsk, ranging from Alaska to eastern Russia.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Crested AukletAethia cristatella Least AukletAethia pusilla Whiskered AukletAethia pygmaea

Heard a Parakeet 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