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

Waved Albatross

Phoebastria irrorata

The Waved Albatross is the largest bird in the Galápagos and the only member of its family restricted to the tropical Pacific.

What it sounds like

Loud, hollow 'whoo-hoo' whistles, rhythmic groans, and rapid, percussive bill-clattering during displays.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Oscar Campbell · EcuadorCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Nearly the entire global population breeds exclusively on Española Island in the Galápagos archipelago.
They perform one of the most complex courtship rituals of any bird, involving synchronized bill-clapping, sky-pointing, and swaying.
Unlike most albatrosses, they forage primarily in the nutrient-rich waters of the Peruvian Upwelling during the non-breeding season.
They are unique among albatrosses for the fine, wavy horizontal barring on their breast and mantle plumage.
To take flight, these massive birds often utilize 'runways' or launch themselves from high cliffs to catch the wind.

Habitat

Arid, rocky volcanic terrain for nesting; pelagic open ocean for foraging.

Range

Galápagos Islands (Española) and the coastlines of Ecuador and Peru.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Black-footed AlbatrossPhoebastria nigripes Laysan AlbatrossPhoebastria immutabilis Short-tailed AlbatrossPhoebastria albatrus

Heard a Waved Albatross?

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

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