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

Western Gull

Larus occidentalis

A large, heavy-bodied gull of the Pacific coast characterized by a dark lead-gray mantle and a bulbous, yellow bill with a prominent red spot. It is a dominant, year-round resident of marine environments and a formidable opportunistic predator.

What it sounds like

A deep, raucous series of barking 'kuk-kuk-kuk' notes and loud, trumpeting 'ki-ow' screams.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Thomas G. Graves · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Strictly marine in distribution, this species is rarely found inland away from the immediate coast or tidewater.
Commonly hybridizes with the Glaucous-winged Gull in the Pacific Northwest, resulting in a hybrid population often referred to as 'Olympic Gulls'.
Highly aggressive kleptoparasites, they frequently steal food from other seabirds and even harbor seals.
Possesses specialized supraorbital salt glands that allow the bird to drink seawater and excrete excess salt through its nostrils.
Exhibits extreme site fidelity, with established pairs often returning to the same nesting territory on offshore islands for many years.

Habitat

Coastal cliffs, rocky shores, sandy beaches, estuaries, and offshore islands.

Range

Pacific coast of North America, from southern British Columbia to central Baja California.

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 Western 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