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

Red-legged Kittiwake

Rissa brevirostris

A small, localized gull of the North Pacific, easily distinguished by its bright red legs and dark gray mantle.

What it sounds like

A high-pitched, nasal 'kitti-wayke' or 'kyaaa,' generally shriller and more squeaky than the Black-legged Kittiwake.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:22

Rec. Doug Gochfeld · United StatesCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

Over 80% of the global population breeds exclusively on the Pribilof Islands in the Bering Sea.
It is more nocturnal than most gulls, frequently foraging at night for bioluminescent fish and squid.
Unlike the Black-legged Kittiwake, this species typically lays only a single egg per nesting attempt.
It possesses shorter bills and larger eyes than its relatives, adaptations likely for night feeding.
Nests are built on extremely narrow cliff ledges, requiring precision flight and landing maneuvers.

Habitat

Steep volcanic sea cliffs for breeding and open subarctic oceanic waters for foraging.

Range

Bering Sea and North Pacific, specifically the Pribilof, Aleutian, and Commander Islands.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Black-legged KittiwakeRissa tridactyla

Heard a Red-legged Kittiwake?

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