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

Gray Gull

Leucophaeus modestus

A medium-sized, lead-gray gull famous for its remarkable ability to breed in the hyper-arid interior of the South American desert.

What it sounds like

A nasal, high-pitched 'kyow' and various sharp, mewing vocalizations typical of small gulls.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:22

Rec. Scott Olmstead · ChileCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is the only gull species known to nest deep within the Atacama Desert, often up to 100 kilometers away from the ocean.
During the breeding season, the bird's forehead turns white, creating a distinct contrast with its dark gray plumage.
To survive the extreme heat, parents commute daily between the inland nesting sites and the Pacific coast to bring food and water to chicks.
Its primary diet consists of mole crabs (Emerita analoga), which it scavenges from the surf zone of coastal beaches.
By nesting in the waterless desert, the species avoids traditional egg predators like foxes and larger gulls.

Habitat

Coastal sandy beaches during the non-breeding season and hyper-arid desert plains for nesting.

Range

The Pacific coast of South America, primarily ranging from southern Ecuador to central Chile.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Dolphin GullLeucophaeus scoresbii Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcan Laughing GullLeucophaeus atricilla Lava GullLeucophaeus fuliginosus

Heard a Gray 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