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

Great Crested Tern

Thalasseus bergii

A large, elegant seabird easily identified by its shaggy black crest, pale grey upperparts, and a long, sharp lemon-yellow bill. It is a powerful flyer often seen patrolling tropical coastlines and plunge-diving for prey.

What it sounds like

A loud, harsh, and grating 'krrow' or a raucous 'kree-it' used during flight and at nesting sites.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:46

Rec. Peter Boesman · AustraliaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is the second largest tern species in the world, smaller only than the Caspian Tern.
During the non-breeding season, the black cap recedes to leave a white forehead, giving it a balding appearance.
They are highly social nesters, forming dense colonies on offshore islands with nests spaced just out of pecking distance.
The species is an opportunistic scavenger and is frequently observed following fishing vessels to feed on discarded bycatch.
Like many seabirds, they possess specialized salt glands above their eyes that allow them to drink seawater and excrete the excess salt.

Habitat

Coastal waters, coral reefs, sandy beaches, estuaries, and remote offshore islands.

Range

Tropical and subtropical coasts of the Indian and Western Pacific Oceans, ranging from South Africa to Australia and the central Pacific islands.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Chinese Crested TernThalasseus bernsteini Elegant TernThalasseus elegans Lesser Crested TernThalasseus bengalensis Royal TernThalasseus maximus Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensis West African Crested TernThalasseus albididorsalis

Heard a Great Crested Tern?

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