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

Little Gull

Hydrocoloeus minutus

The world's smallest gull, characterized by its dainty, tern-like flight and distinctive charcoal-black underwings in adults.

What it sounds like

A rhythmic, nasal 'kek-kek-kek' or a soft, repeated 'kay-kay' call.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:16

Rec. Francesco Sottile · ItalyCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is the only member of the genus Hydrocoloeus, having been taxonomically separated from the Larus genus.
Adults possess unique smoky-black underwings that create a striking contrast against their pale gray upperparts in flight.
The species often forages like a swallow, snatching insects out of the air or delicately dipping from the water's surface.
It has a rapid maturation cycle, reaching full adult plumage in just two years compared to the four years required by larger gulls.
During the breeding season, adults develop a deep black hood that terminates abruptly at the upper nape.

Habitat

Freshwater marshes and lowland lakes for breeding; coastal waters, estuaries, and large inland lakes during migration.

Range

Breeds across northern Eurasia and sporadically in the Great Lakes of North America; winters in the Mediterranean and along Atlantic coasts.

Heard a Little 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