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

Arctic Tern

Sterna paradisaea

A slender, medium-sized seabird renowned for undertaking the longest annual migration of any animal, traveling between the Arctic and Antarctic.

What it sounds like

A high-pitched, rasping 'kee-ahr' and sharp, rattling 'kik-kik-kik' notes.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. bert de bruin · NorwayCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It experiences two summers every year by migrating between the northern breeding grounds and the Southern Ocean.
The total distance traveled in an individual's lifetime can exceed 2.4 million kilometers, equivalent to three round trips to the moon.
Arctic Terns are highly defensive of their nests and will aggressively dive-bomb the heads of intruders, including humans.
They are exceptionally long-lived for small birds, with some individuals reaching over 30 years of age.
They can forage on the wing and are capable of sleeping while gliding during their transoceanic journeys.

Habitat

Coastal tundra and rocky islands for nesting; pelagic waters during migration and wintering.

Range

Circumpolar Arctic breeding range; migrates through the Atlantic and Pacific to the Southern Ocean near Antarctica.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Antarctic TernSterna vittata Black-bellied TernSterna acuticauda Black-naped TernSterna sumatrana Common TernSterna hirundo Forster's TernSterna forsteri Kerguelen TernSterna virgata River TernSterna aurantia Roseate TernSterna dougallii

Heard a Arctic Tern?

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