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

Australian Tern

Gelochelidon macrotarsa

A robust, thick-billed tern formerly treated as a subspecies of the Gull-billed Tern, unique for its preference for terrestrial hunting over plunge-diving. It is characterized by its heavy black bill and significantly longer legs compared to its marine relatives.

What it sounds like

A harsh, nasal, and rasping 'kay-weck' or 'ka-hark', more reminiscent of a gull than a typical tern.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:26

Rec. James Lambert · AustraliaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

It was recently recognized as a distinct species from the Afro-Eurasian Gull-billed Tern based on size and plumage differences.
Unlike most terns, it rarely dives for fish, preferring to hawk insects or snatch lizards and frogs from the ground.
The species name 'macrotarsa' highlights its unusually long tarsus (legs), which aid in walking across mudflats and grasslands.
Breeding is often nomadic and opportunistic, occurring in large colonies on islands within temporary inland salt lakes after heavy rains.
During the non-breeding season, it exhibits a white crown with a distinctive dark mask through the eye.

Habitat

Inland wetlands, grasslands, floodplains, and coastal estuaries.

Range

Widespread across mainland Australia and occasionally found in southern New Guinea.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Gull-billed TernGelochelidon nilotica

Heard a Australian Tern?

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