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

Peruvian Pelican

Pelecanus thagus

A massive, dark-plumaged marine bird of the Humboldt Current, the Peruvian Pelican is significantly larger than its relative, the Brown Pelican.

What it sounds like

Generally silent as adults, but produces low, guttural croaks or grunts when at nesting sites.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Dries Van de Loock · PeruCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is the second-largest pelican species in the world, boasting a wingspan that can reach up to 2.4 meters.
During breeding, adults develop a bright yellow crown and a colorful gular pouch with blue and pinkish tints.
Unlike many other pelican species, it is a specialized plunge-diver that hits the water from significant heights to catch prey.
Its population is highly susceptible to El Niño cycles, which cause drastic declines in its primary food source, the Peruvian anchoveta.
They are key guano-producing birds, nesting in massive, dense colonies on rocky offshore islands.

Habitat

Rocky coastal cliffs, offshore islands, and cold, nutrient-rich marine waters.

Range

Western coast of South America, primarily from northern Peru to central Chile.

Similar & commonly confused birds

American White PelicanPelecanus erythrorhynchos Australian PelicanPelecanus conspicillatus Brown PelicanPelecanus occidentalis Dalmatian PelicanPelecanus crispus Great White PelicanPelecanus onocrotalus Pink-backed PelicanPelecanus rufescens Spot-billed PelicanPelecanus philippensis

Heard a Peruvian Pelican?

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