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

Pallas's Gull

Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus

The Pallas's Gull is one of the world's largest gull species, distinguished by its massive size, velvet-black breeding hood, and powerful tri-colored bill.

What it sounds like

A deep, raucous, and barking 'kyow' or 'kraa-a', significantly lower in pitch than most smaller gull species.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / --:--

Rec. Peter Boesman · KazakhstanCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is the largest 'hooded' gull species, reaching a wingspan of up to 170 centimeters.
The species takes four years to reach full adult plumage, passing through complex mottled brown juvenile stages.
Breeding adults possess striking white 'eyelid' crescents that contrast sharply against their jet-black heads.
Its heavy bill features a unique color pattern: yellow with a black subterminal band and a bright red tip.
Unlike many gulls, it often nests in high-altitude colonies on islands within large salt lakes up to 3,000 meters above sea level.

Habitat

Inland salt lakes, steppes, and marshes during the breeding season; coastal bays, estuaries, and large rivers during winter.

Range

Breeds from southern Russia and the Caspian Sea to Mongolia; winters across the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent, and Northeast Africa.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Audouin's GullIchthyaetus audouinii Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalus Relict GullIchthyaetus relictus Sooty GullIchthyaetus hemprichii White-eyed GullIchthyaetus leucophthalmus

Heard a Pallas's 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