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

Providence Petrel

Pterodroma solandri

The Providence Petrel is a robust, charcoal-grey gadfly petrel known for its historical role as a food source for early Pacific settlers and its remarkably inquisitive nature. It is one of the few winter-breeding petrels in the Southern Hemisphere, nesting primarily on high volcanic peaks.

What it sounds like

A series of high-pitched, rhythmic cackles and stuttering 'cuk-cuk-cuk' or 'ti-ti-ti' notes, often described as a wild, laughing sound.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 1:09

Rec. Todd Mark · AustraliaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It earned the name 'Bird of Providence' for saving starving convicts and settlers on Norfolk Island from famine in the late 18th century.
The species is famously attracted to human vocalizations and will often fly down to land at the feet of people who shout or make loud noises.
While the Norfolk Island population was historically wiped out by overhunting, the species maintains a stronghold of about 30,000 pairs on Lord Howe Island.
They are distinct winter breeders, returning to their colonies in March and April when most other petrels are heading out to sea.
Outside the breeding season, they migrate across the equator into the North Pacific, reaching waters near Japan and the Gulf of Alaska.

Habitat

Pelagic open ocean; breeds on high-altitude forested mountain slopes and rocky summits.

Range

Breeds primarily on Lord Howe Island; ranges across the Tasman Sea and North Pacific Ocean.

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 Providence Petrel?

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