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

Lesser Crested Tern

Thalasseus bengalensis

The Lesser Crested Tern is a medium-sized seabird distinguished by its vivid orange bill and shaggy black crest. It is a highly social species often seen plunge-diving for fish along tropical and subtropical coastlines.

What it sounds like

A loud, harsh, and grating 'kerr-rak' or 'kirrik,' typically deeper than the call of a Sandwich Tern.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Lim Ying Hien · MalaysiaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is distinguished from the similar Greater Crested Tern by its slightly smaller size and its more orange-toned, rather than yellow-toned, bill.
The species utilizes a 'crèche' system where older chicks gather in large communal groups while the parents are away foraging.
Unlike many other tern species, its rump and tail are pale grey and match the color of the mantle rather than being a contrasting white.
It breeds in extremely dense colonies on offshore islands, sometimes reaching densities of several thousand pairs in a small area.
The Mediterranean population is a distinct subspecies (T. b. emigratus) that primarily winters along the West African coast.

Habitat

Coastal waters, sandy offshore islands, coral reefs, and sheltered estuaries.

Range

Tropical and subtropical coasts of the Mediterranean, Red Sea, Indian Ocean, and Western Pacific through to Australia.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Chinese Crested TernThalasseus bernsteini Elegant TernThalasseus elegans Great Crested TernThalasseus bergii Royal TernThalasseus maximus Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensis West African Crested TernThalasseus albididorsalis

Heard a Lesser Crested 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