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

Damara Tern

Sternula balaenarum

The Damara Tern is a small, pale seabird endemic to the southwestern coast of Africa, distinguished by its specialized nesting habits in arid coastal deserts. It is a highly localized species known for its rapid, jerky flight patterns while foraging in the surf zone.

What it sounds like

A sharp, high-pitched 'tsit-it' and a harsh, rasping 'kerr-ick' often uttered during flight or at nesting sites.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Bram Vogels · NamibiaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is the smallest tern species breeding in southern Africa, measuring only approximately 23 centimeters in length.
Unlike most colonial terns, it often nests in solitary scrapes on gravel plains or salt pans up to several kilometers inland to avoid predators.
The species is classified as Near Threatened, with a global population sensitive to coastal development and off-road vehicle disturbance.
During courtship, males engage in an elaborate 'fish-flight' display, carrying a small fish to present to a prospective mate.
Post-breeding, they undergo a long-distance migration north along the Atlantic coast, reaching as far as the Gulf of Guinea.

Habitat

Arid coastal gravel plains, salt pans, sandy beaches, and shallow inshore marine waters.

Range

Breeds primarily in Namibia and South Africa; winters along the West African coastline to Nigeria and Ghana.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Australian Fairy TernSternula nereis Least TernSternula antillarum Little TernSternula albifrons Peruvian TernSternula lorata Saunders's TernSternula saundersi Yellow-billed TernSternula superciliaris

Heard a Damara Tern?

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