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

Short-billed Gull

Larus brachyrhynchus

A small, delicate gull of the Pacific Northwest, recently split from the Eurasian Common Gull and distinguished by its short, unmarked yellow bill and large dark eyes.

What it sounds like

High-pitched, shrill, and squeaky 'kew' or 'keee-er' notes, sounding thinner than larger gulls.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Seth Beaudreault · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Formerly classified as the 'Mew Gull' before being recognized as a distinct species (Larus brachyrhynchus) in 2021.
Uniquely among many gull species, it frequently nests in spruce or hemlock trees rather than exclusively on the ground.
Exhibits a 'plover-like' foraging style, running in short bursts to snatch prey from the surface of mudflats.
During the breeding season, it often feeds heavily on insects, which it can catch with high agility in mid-air.
It is highly migratory, traveling from subarctic breeding grounds to winter as far south as Baja California.

Habitat

Coastal estuaries, mudflats, and rocky shores in winter; inland lakes, rivers, and muskeg during breeding.

Range

Northwestern North America, including Alaska and Western Canada, wintering along the Pacific Coast.

Similar & commonly confused birds

American Herring GullLarus smithsonianus Armenian GullLarus armenicus Belcher's GullLarus belcheri Black-tailed GullLarus crassirostris California GullLarus californicus Caspian GullLarus cachinnans Common GullLarus canus European Herring GullLarus argentatus

Heard a Short-billed 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