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-hooded Gull

Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus

The Gray-hooded Gull is a medium-sized, social gull distinguished by its soft gray facial mask and unusually pale eyes.

What it sounds like

A harsh, rasping 'krray-ah' or 'ka-yak', sounding deeper and more nasal than the Black-headed Gull.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:48

Rec. Kileo Jumah · TanzaniaCC0 Xeno-canto

Field notes

It possesses a remarkable disjunct distribution, with distinct populations breeding in both South America and Sub-Saharan Africa.
Unlike most similar hooded gulls that have dark eyes, this species features a striking pale yellowish-white iris.
The distinctive gray hood is only present during the breeding season, molting into a small dark spot behind the eye in winter.
It is a highly gregarious nester, often forming dense colonies that can include thousands of pairs.
While primarily coastal, it is well-adapted to inland life and is frequently found at high-altitude lakes in the Andes and the African Rift Valley.

Habitat

Coastal lagoons, estuaries, large freshwater lakes, and marshes.

Range

South America (primarily the Atlantic coast and Andean lakes) and Sub-Saharan Africa.

Similar & commonly confused birds

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

Heard a Gray-hooded Gull?

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