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

Brown-headed Gull

Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus

The Brown-headed Gull is a medium-sized gull of High Asia, distinguished in breeding plumage by its pale chocolate-brown hood and bold white wing mirrors. It is a high-altitude specialist that undergoes significant seasonal migrations to tropical coastal regions.

What it sounds like

A loud, harsh, and somewhat nasal 'kraah' or 'keer', notably deeper and raspier than the call of the Black-headed Gull.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Jelle Scharringa · ChinaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Breeds at extreme elevations on the Tibetan Plateau and surrounding areas, typically between 3,000 and 4,500 meters above sea level.
Features unique, large white 'mirrors' on the tips of the primary feathers (P9 and P10) which are a key diagnostic feature in flight.
The summer hood is a lighter brown than that of the Black-headed Gull and lacks the dark terminal border where it meets the neck.
Migrates south to winter along the coasts of the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, often frequenting busy fishing harbors and estuaries.
Exhibits a two-year plumage cycle, reaching full adult characteristics after its second winter molt.

Habitat

High-altitude saline and freshwater lakes during breeding; coastal bays, estuaries, and inland wetlands during winter.

Range

Breeds across Central Asia and the Tibetan Plateau; winters from the Persian Gulf to Southern China and Indochina.

Similar & commonly confused birds

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

Heard a Brown-headed Gull?

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