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

White-necked Petrel

Pterodroma cervicalis

A large, elegant gadfly petrel characterized by its prominent white hindneck and striking black-and-white plumage. It is a master of high-arcing, dynamic flight over the open Pacific.

What it sounds like

A rapid, high-pitched staccato 'ti-ti-ti' or 'kek-kek-kek' given during nocturnal aerial displays, often paired with low, guttural moans.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 8:40

Rec. Luke Halpin · AustraliaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

Breeding is almost entirely restricted to Macauley Island in the Kermadec chain following its extirpation from Raoul Island by invasive predators.
The species exhibits a diagnostic dark 'M' pattern across its upperwings, which contrasts sharply with its pale grey mantle.
It was formerly considered conspecific with the smaller Vanuatu Petrel, but is now recognized as a distinct, larger species.
Nesting occurs in burrows excavated in high-altitude forest soil or beneath dense ferns on volcanic slopes.
Its foraging strategy involves dynamic soaring to cover vast distances, primarily feeding on cephalopods and fish taken from the ocean surface.

Habitat

Highly pelagic in subtropical and tropical waters; nests in underground burrows on forested volcanic islands.

Range

Breeds in the Kermadec Islands (New Zealand); ranges widely across the Pacific Ocean, reaching as far north as the Hawaiian Islands.

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 White-necked 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