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

White-eyed Gull

Ichthyaetus leucophthalmus

A medium-sized gull endemic to the Red Sea region, easily identified by its distinctive black hood and prominent white crescents above and below the eyes.

What it sounds like

A high-pitched, nasal 'pwee-ow' and various harsh, barking social notes.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:24

Rec. David Darrell-Lambert · Saudi ArabiaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is one of the world's most range-restricted gull species, found almost exclusively in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
The species is classified as Near Threatened due to its small population size and vulnerability to oil spills and habitat disturbance.
Adults possess a long, slender bill that is bright red with a black tip during the breeding season.
Unlike many generalist gulls, this species rarely scavenges at refuse tips, preferring a diet of fish and aquatic invertebrates.
It nests in loose colonies on offshore coral islands, typically placing its nest in a shallow scrape on open sand or rock.

Habitat

Marine coastal waters, sandy beaches, coral reefs, and offshore islands.

Range

Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, with some individuals wandering south to the coasts of Somalia and Kenya.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Audouin's GullIchthyaetus audouinii Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalus Pallas's GullIchthyaetus ichthyaetus Relict GullIchthyaetus relictus Sooty GullIchthyaetus hemprichii

Heard a White-eyed Gull?

Open Birdsong, tap record, and identify the bird singing near you in seconds — then collect it in your field journal.

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