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

Relict Gull

Ichthyaetus relictus

A rare and localized medium-sized gull characterized by its striking black hood and specialized dependence on ephemeral salt lake ecosystems.

What it sounds like

A nasal, diagnostic 'ky-ow' and various low-pitched barking or laughing notes similar to other large hooded gulls.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Terry Townshend · ChinaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It was only recognized as a distinct species in 1971, having previously been mistaken for a subspecies of the Mediterranean Gull or a hybrid.
Breeding is highly opportunistic, with colonies forming only when fluctuating water levels create suitable islands in saline lakes.
In breeding plumage, it displays a complete black hood that extends down the nape, accented by prominent white crescents around the eyes.
The species is extremely sensitive to human disturbance; even minor intrusions can cause entire colonies to abandon their nests.
Their diet is surprisingly insectivorous during the breeding season, frequently preying on midges and other aquatic invertebrates.

Habitat

Remote saline and alkaline lakes in arid steppe regions during summer; coastal mudflats and estuaries during winter.

Range

Breeds in fragmented populations across Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Russia, and China; winters along the East Asian coast.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Audouin's GullIchthyaetus audouinii Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalus Pallas's GullIchthyaetus ichthyaetus Sooty GullIchthyaetus hemprichii White-eyed GullIchthyaetus leucophthalmus

Heard a Relict Gull?

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