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

Great Black-backed Gull

Larus marinus

The world's largest gull, a formidable apex predator known as the 'King of the Atlantic' for its size and aggressive nature.

What it sounds like

A deep, gravelly, and powerful 'kyow' or 'glayer,' significantly lower in pitch than the Herring Gull.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:34

Rec. bert de bruin · NorwayCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is the largest gull species globally, with a wingspan that can reach up to 1.7 meters (5.5 feet).
Unlike most gulls, it is a significant predator that frequently kills and eats other adult birds, including puffins and smaller gull species.
Adults feature a distinctive slaty-black mantle and wings that contrast sharply with their pinkish-flesh colored legs.
The species is highly kleptoparasitic, often bullying bald eagles and other seabirds to steal their food.
It requires four full years of maturation to transition from mottled brown juvenile feathers to definitive adult plumage.

Habitat

Coastal shores, estuaries, rocky islands, and occasionally large inland lakes.

Range

North Atlantic coasts of North America and Europe, including the Great Lakes region.

Similar & commonly confused birds

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

Heard a Great Black-backed 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