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

Mediterranean Gull

Ichthyaetus melanocephalus

A medium-sized, elegant gull known for its jet-black summer hood and strikingly translucent white wingtips. It has significantly expanded its breeding range from the Black Sea across the rest of Europe over the last century.

What it sounds like

A characteristic nasal, cat-like 'ee-err' or 'ky-ow' that is lower-pitched and more melodic than the Black-headed Gull.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Thierry THOMAS · FranceCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Adults lack any black on their primary wing feathers, a key feature that distinguishes them from the similar Black-headed Gull.
The species displays a bright red bill with a dark subterminal bar and matching deep red legs during the breeding season.
It possesses a distinctive white 'broken eye-ring' made of two thick crescents that contrast sharply against its dark hood.
While historically rare in Western Europe, the population has boomed, with thousands now breeding in colonies along the North Sea and Atlantic coasts.
It follows a two-year plumage cycle, reaching full adult appearance after its second winter moult.

Habitat

Coastal marshes, salt pans, and estuaries; frequently found foraging in inland agricultural fields during the winter.

Range

Breeds primarily in the Black Sea and across Europe; winters along the Mediterranean, Atlantic, and North African coasts.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Audouin's GullIchthyaetus audouinii Pallas's GullIchthyaetus ichthyaetus Relict GullIchthyaetus relictus Sooty GullIchthyaetus hemprichii White-eyed GullIchthyaetus leucophthalmus

Heard a Mediterranean Gull?

Open Birdsong, tap record, and identify the bird singing near you in seconds — then collect it in your field journal.

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