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

California Gull

Larus californicus

A medium-sized gull of the American West, distinguished by its yellow bill with black and red markings and its historic significance in Utah. It is highly adaptable, nesting in large inland colonies and wintering along the Pacific coast.

What it sounds like

A series of loud, high-pitched 'kiarr' notes and rhythmic, laughing 'hah-hah-hah' sequences.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:44

Rec. Richard E. Webster · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is famously credited with saving the crops of Mormon pioneers from a cricket infestation in 1848, leading to its status as Utah's state bird.
Adults are identified by a yellow bill featuring a red spot on the lower mandible and a black ring near the tip.
The species is highly opportunistic, consuming a diverse diet that includes insects, fish, eggs, small rodents, and cherries.
Unlike many coastal gulls, they primarily breed in large colonies on islands within inland saline or alkaline lakes.
They possess a darker gray mantle and more slender bill compared to the similar-looking Ring-billed Gull.

Habitat

Inland lakes, marshes, and agricultural fields during breeding; coastal beaches and estuaries during winter.

Range

Western North America, from southern Canada through the western United States to Baja California.

Similar & commonly confused birds

American Herring GullLarus smithsonianus Armenian GullLarus armenicus Belcher's GullLarus belcheri Black-tailed GullLarus crassirostris Caspian GullLarus cachinnans Common GullLarus canus European Herring GullLarus argentatus Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreus

Heard a California 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