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

Elegant Tern

Thalasseus elegans

A slender, medium-sized seabird characterized by a long, slightly decurved orange bill and a shaggy black crest during the breeding season. It is a highly social species primarily associated with the Pacific coast of the Americas.

What it sounds like

A high-pitched, raspy, and nasal 'kar-reeck' or 'keer-ick'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 1:14

Rec. Paul Marvin · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Approximately 90% of the global population nests on the tiny volcanic island of Isla Rasa in the Gulf of California.
The species is highly sensitive to El Niño Southern Oscillation events, which can cause massive shifts in nesting distribution and prey availability.
Parent birds recognize their own chicks within massive 'creches' of thousands by using distinct vocal signatures.
The Elegant Tern's bill is longer and more slender than the similar Royal Tern, often exhibiting a noticeable yellow-orange gradient toward the tip.
They are opportunistic foragers that primarily target northern anchovies and Pacific sardines through shallow plunge-diving.

Habitat

Coastal beaches, lagoons, salt marshes, and productive offshore waters.

Range

Breeds in the Gulf of California and Southern California; winters along the Pacific coast from Mexico to Chile.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Chinese Crested TernThalasseus bernsteini Great Crested TernThalasseus bergii Lesser Crested TernThalasseus bengalensis Royal TernThalasseus maximus Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensis West African Crested TernThalasseus albididorsalis

Heard a Elegant Tern?

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

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