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

Chinese Crested Tern

Thalasseus bernsteini

A critically endangered seabird known as the 'Bird of Legend,' characterized by its lemon-yellow bill with a distinctive black tip. It was thought extinct for over 60 years until its rediscovery in 2000.

What it sounds like

A harsh, grating 'kirrr-ick' or 'kyi-vick,' similar to the Greater Crested Tern but often higher in pitch.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / --:--

Rec. He Wenjin/文进 · ChinaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Rediscovered in 2000 on the Matsu Islands after being feared extinct since 1937.
The global population is extremely small, currently estimated at fewer than 150 individuals.
It typically nests within larger colonies of Greater Crested Terns for communal protection.
Conservationists use lifelike decoys and audio playback to lure the birds to safe breeding sites.
The species is highly sensitive to human disturbance and egg harvesting, which historically drove its decline.

Habitat

Remote, rocky offshore islands for breeding; coastal mudflats and estuaries for non-breeding foraging.

Range

East Asia, breeding on islands off the coast of China, Taiwan, and South Korea, wintering south to the Philippines and Indonesia.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Elegant TernThalasseus elegans Great Crested TernThalasseus bergii Lesser Crested TernThalasseus bengalensis Royal TernThalasseus maximus Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensis West African Crested TernThalasseus albididorsalis

Heard a Chinese Crested 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