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-legged Kittiwake

Rissa tridactyla

A medium-sized, pelagic gull characterized by its 'ink-dipped' black wingtips and specialized cliff-nesting behavior. It is the most numerous gull species in the world and spends most of its life at sea.

What it sounds like

A shrill, rhythmic, three-syllable cry that sounds like its name: 'kitti-wayke, kitti-waak'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Christian Bøggild · DenmarkCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Its scientific name, Rissa tridactyla, refers to its vestigial or absent hind toe, a unique trait among gulls.
Unlike most gulls, it is strictly marine and does not scavenge at inland landfills or urban areas.
Nests are built on precariously narrow cliff ledges, cemented to the rock using a mixture of mud, seaweed, and guano.
Kittiwake chicks are uniquely adapted to cliff life; they remain sedentary and face the rock wall to avoid falling.
During the winter, these birds are almost entirely pelagic, often staying in the middle of the North Atlantic or North Pacific.

Habitat

Oceanic waters and steep coastal cliffs or offshore rock stacks.

Range

Northern Atlantic and Pacific oceans, ranging from the High Arctic to temperate waters.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Red-legged KittiwakeRissa brevirostris

Heard a Black-legged Kittiwake?

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