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

Gyrfalcon

Falco rusticolus

The Gyrfalcon is the world's largest falcon, a powerful Arctic predator characterized by its broad wings and highly variable plumage ranging from snowy white to dark charcoal.

What it sounds like

A deep, rasping, and rhythmic 'kak-kak-kak' or 'kyak-kyak-kyak,' typically slower and lower-pitched than that of a Peregrine Falcon.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Lars Edenius · SwedenCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is the largest falcon species in the world, with a wingspan that can reach up to 130 centimeters.
The species exhibits extreme color polymorphism, with white, silver, and dark brown morphs occurring across its range.
Gyrfalcons are specialized hunters of ptarmigan, which can comprise over 90% of their diet during the breeding season.
They do not construct their own nests, instead utilizing cliff ledges or refurbishing abandoned stick nests of Common Ravens or Golden Eagles.
Unlike many raptors, some high-latitude populations remain in the Arctic year-round, surviving the extreme conditions of the polar winter.

Habitat

Arctic tundra, coastal cliffs, and barren mountain ranges above the treeline.

Range

Circumpolar Arctic and subarctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere, including North America, Greenland, Eurasia, and Iceland.

Similar & commonly confused birds

African HobbyFalco cuvierii American KestrelFalco sparverius Amur FalconFalco amurensis Aplomado FalconFalco femoralis Australian HobbyFalco longipennis Banded KestrelFalco zoniventris Bat FalconFalco rufigularis Black FalconFalco subniger

Heard a Gyrfalcon?

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