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

Slaty-backed Gull

Larus schistisagus

The Slaty-backed Gull is a large, powerful four-year gull of the North Pacific, characterized by its deep slate-gray mantle and robust structure.

What it sounds like

A deep, harsh, and raucous 'kyow' or 'ga-ga-ga' similar to a Herring Gull but typically lower in pitch.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:31

Rec. Uku Paal · JapanCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Displays a diagnostic 'string of pearls' pattern formed by white subterminal spots on its primary flight feathers.
The mantle color is intermediate between the lighter Herring Gull and the much darker Great Black-backed Gull.
Frequently hybridizes with the Glaucous-winged Gull in areas where their North Pacific breeding ranges overlap.
Adults possess notably bright, bubblegum-pink legs and feet, which serve as a key field mark.
It is a highly opportunistic feeder, consuming everything from fish and marine invertebrates to refuse and other birds' eggs.

Habitat

Coastal cliffs, rocky islands, estuaries, and increasingly found in urban harbors or landfills during winter.

Range

Breeds along the coasts of Northeast Asia and Siberia; winters south to Japan and China, with regular vagrancy to Western North America.

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 Slaty-backed Gull?

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