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

Herring Gull

Larus argentatus

A large, robust 'four-year' gull characterized by a pale gray back, pink legs, and a yellow bill with a red subterminal spot. It is a highly adaptable scavenger found across the Northern Hemisphere.

What it sounds like

A loud, ringing 'laughing' series consisting of a low-pitched 'uow' followed by high, repeated 'kleew' notes.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Eetu Paljakka · FinlandCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It takes four years to transition from mottled brown juvenile plumage to the characteristic gray and white adult plumage.
Chicks stimulate a feeding response by pecking at a specific red spot on the parent's lower mandible.
Specialized supraorbital glands allow the bird to drink salt water by filtering out excess sodium and excreting it through the nostrils.
They exhibit intelligent foraging behaviors, such as dropping hard-shelled mollusks onto rocks or pavement to break them open.
The species is highly social and maintains a complex hierarchy communicated through various postures and a wide vocal repertoire.

Habitat

Coastal beaches, rocky shores, estuaries, lakes, rivers, and increasingly urban environments like landfills and rooftops.

Range

Holarctic; widespread across North America, Europe, and Northern Asia.

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 Herring 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