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

Belcher's Gull

Larus belcheri

The Belcher's Gull, also known as the Band-tailed Gull, is a medium-sized scavenger endemic to the nutrient-rich waters of the Humboldt Current.

What it sounds like

A harsh, barking 'ky-ow' and various raucous, laughing gull-like vocalizations.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:39

Rec. Jacek Betleja · PeruCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is named after the British explorer Admiral Sir Edward Belcher, who surveyed the Pacific coast in the 19th century.
Adults are easily identified by a broad black subterminal band on an otherwise white tail.
The species is a notorious predator of other seabird colonies, frequently stealing eggs and chicks from Guanay Cormorants.
Its bill features a unique tri-colored pattern: yellow base, black subterminal band, and a red tip.
It was historically considered the same species as the Olrog's Gull before being split based on plumage and range differences.

Habitat

Rocky shorelines, sandy beaches, and coastal guano islands.

Range

The Pacific coast of South America, primarily from northern Peru to central Chile.

Similar & commonly confused birds

American Herring GullLarus smithsonianus Armenian GullLarus armenicus Black-tailed GullLarus crassirostris California GullLarus californicus Caspian GullLarus cachinnans Common GullLarus canus European Herring GullLarus argentatus Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreus

Heard a Belcher's Gull?

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