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

Red-footed Booby

Sula sula

The smallest of the sulids, the Red-footed Booby is a pantropical seabird famous for its bright coral-red legs and its unique habit of nesting in trees.

What it sounds like

A series of harsh, guttural croaks and nasal 'ark-ark' sounds, typically silent when away from the colony.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:39

Rec. Barry Edmonston · EcuadorCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is the only booby species that routinely nests in trees and shrubs rather than on the ground.
The species is highly polymorphic, occurring in distinct white, brown, and white-tailed brown plumage morphs.
Possesses prehensile feet with strong gripping power to facilitate perching on thin branches and mangroves.
An exceptionally agile flyer that can catch flying fish in mid-air, though it also plunge-dives for squid and fish.
While most boobies have pale eyes, the Red-footed Booby typically features dark, large eyes to aid in crepuscular foraging.

Habitat

Remote tropical oceanic islands with sufficient woody vegetation or mangroves for nesting.

Range

Pantropical oceans, including the Caribbean, Galápagos, and various island chains across the Pacific and Indian Oceans.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Blue-footed BoobySula nebouxii Brown BoobySula leucogaster Cocos BoobySula brewsteri Masked BoobySula dactylatra Nazca BoobySula granti Peruvian BoobySula variegata

Heard a Red-footed Booby?

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