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

Black-headed Gull

Chroicocephalus ridibundus

A small, gregarious gull easily identified by its chocolate-brown facial hood in the breeding season and a distinctive dark spot behind the eye in winter.

What it sounds like

A loud, harsh, and nasal 'kree-ar' or 'kwarr', often described as a rasping or screeching laugh.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 3:42

Rec. Lionel FREDERIC · FranceCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Despite its common name, the bird's summer hood is actually a deep chocolate brown rather than true black.
It is a highly opportunistic feeder, frequently following tractors to catch soil invertebrates or stealing food from other shorebirds.
Unlike many other gulls, this species is increasingly adapted to urban life, often nesting on gravel rooftops and scavenging in city parks.
In flight, it displays a characteristic bright white wedge on the leading edge of its outer wings.
They are extremely vocal and social, typically nesting in dense colonies that can contain thousands of pairs.

Habitat

Inland marshes, lakes, coastal estuaries, agricultural fields, and urban environments.

Range

Widespread across Europe and Asia, with wintering populations in Africa and a small, established presence in Northeastern North America.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Andean GullChroicocephalus serranus Black-billed GullChroicocephalus bulleri Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphia Brown-headed GullChroicocephalus brunnicephalus Brown-hooded GullChroicocephalus maculipennis Gray-hooded GullChroicocephalus cirrocephalus Hartlaub's GullChroicocephalus hartlaubii Silver GullChroicocephalus novaehollandiae

Heard a Black-headed Gull?

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