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

Swallow-tailed Gull

Creagrus furcatus

The Swallow-tailed Gull is a unique, nocturnal seabird distinguished by its deeply forked tail and large, dark eyes specialized for night foraging.

What it sounds like

A loud, rapid 'rattle-and-whistle' consisting of mechanical clicking followed by a high-pitched scream.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Jacob Guachisaca Salínas · EcuadorCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is the world's only fully nocturnal gull, hunting primarily at night to avoid competition and kleptoparasitism from frigatebirds.
The species possesses a tapetum lucidum, a reflective layer behind the retina that enhances vision in low-light conditions.
Its diet consists mainly of squid and bioluminescent fish that vertically migrate to the ocean surface after sunset.
To help mates locate them in the dark, adults have white tips on their bills and specialized white plumage patches that reflect moonlight.
Unlike most gulls that lay multiple eggs, this species typically lays a single egg on rocky cliff ledges to focus parental care.

Habitat

Steep volcanic cliffs and rocky shorelines for nesting; open pelagic waters for foraging.

Range

Breeds almost exclusively in the Galápagos Islands and Malpelo Island; ranges along the Pacific coast from Ecuador to Chile.

Heard a Swallow-tailed 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