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

Tufted Puffin

Fratercula cirrhata

The Tufted Puffin is a stocky, medium-sized pelagic seabird distinguished by its massive orange bill and long, flowing yellow head plumes during the breeding season. It is the largest and most widely distributed member of the puffin genus.

What it sounds like

Generally silent at sea; at nesting colonies, they emit low, guttural growls and moaning 'errrr' sounds from within burrows.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

No reference call found yet · Xeno-canto

Field notes

During the breeding season, adults grow distinctive straw-colored 'tufts' of feathers behind their eyes that can reach several inches in length.
They are exceptional divers that use their wings to 'fly' underwater, reaching depths of over 60 meters while pursuing small fish and squid.
Nesting occurs in deep burrows excavated into the soil of steep coastal cliffs, sometimes reaching lengths of up to five feet.
Specialized serrations on the upper mandible and a roughened tongue allow them to hold dozens of fish in their beak at once.
Unlike many other seabirds, they can transition directly from the water into flight, though they require a vigorous running start across the surface.

Habitat

Pelagic waters of the open ocean and grassy slopes or rocky crevices on offshore islands for nesting.

Range

North Pacific Ocean, ranging from the coastlines of Japan and Russia through the Aleutian Islands to California.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Atlantic PuffinFratercula arctica Horned PuffinFratercula corniculata

Heard a Tufted Puffin?

Open Birdsong, tap record, and identify the bird singing near you in seconds — then collect it in your field journal.

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