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

Kerguelen Tern

Sterna virgata

The Kerguelen Tern is a small, dark-plumaged subantarctic seabird endemic to a few remote island groups in the southern Indian Ocean. It is notably more sedentary than most other tern species, remaining near its breeding grounds year-round.

What it sounds like

A harsh, high-pitched 'kee-ark' or nasal 'pi-er', generally shorter and more abrupt than the call of the Antarctic Tern.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Hichem MACHOUK · FranceCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is uniquely terrestrial during the breeding season, frequently foraging for earthworms and insect larvae in inland bogs.
The species is highly vulnerable to invasive predators like feral cats and rats, contributing to its Near Threatened status.
Unlike the similar Antarctic Tern, it possesses darker grey underparts and shorter, more rounded wings adapted for local flight.
It typically nests in small, loose colonies on rocky inland ridges or riverbeds rather than directly on the shoreline.
The population is extremely localized, with the majority of the global population found on the Kerguelen archipelago.

Habitat

Subantarctic island interiors including rocky plains and marshes, as well as coastal kelp forests for foraging.

Range

Southern Indian Ocean, specifically the Kerguelen, Crozet, and Prince Edward Islands.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Antarctic TernSterna vittata Arctic TernSterna paradisaea Black-bellied TernSterna acuticauda Black-naped TernSterna sumatrana Common TernSterna hirundo Forster's TernSterna forsteri River TernSterna aurantia Roseate TernSterna dougallii

Heard a Kerguelen Tern?

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