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

Least Tern

Sternula antillarum

The smallest North American tern, recognized by its delicate proportions, white forehead patch, and yellow bill with a black tip.

What it sounds like

A sharp, high-pitched, squeaky 'kill-ick' or a rapid 'kip-kip-kip' alarm call.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:49

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

Field notes

Nests in simple, unlined scrapes on open ground, relying on egg camouflage for protection.
Courtship involves elaborate 'fish flights' where the male carries a small fish to attract a mate.
Aggressively defends colonies by dive-bombing and defecating on potential predators or human intruders.
The interior population was federally listed as endangered for decades due to habitat loss from river damming.
Unlike most larger terns, it frequently hovers momentarily before diving vertically into the water for prey.

Habitat

Sandy beaches, gravel bars, alkali flats, and dredge spoil islands.

Range

Breeds along the Atlantic, Gulf, and California coasts, and major interior river systems; winters in Central and South America.

Similar & commonly confused birds

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

Heard a Least 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