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

Little Tern

Sternula albifrons

The Little Tern is one of the smallest seabirds in its family, easily identified by its diminutive size, rapid wingbeats, and distinctive white forehead patch.

What it sounds like

A sharp, high-pitched 'kik-kik' and a harsh, rasping 'ee-rit'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Ding Li Yong · MongoliaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

It possesses a bright yellow bill with a small black tip during the breeding season.
Nests are simple scrapes in the sand or shingle, making the camouflaged eggs extremely difficult to spot.
Courtship involves an aerial 'fish-flight' where the male carries a gift to attract a mate.
It is a plunge-diver that hovers briefly before dropping vertically into shallow water to catch small fish.
Despite its small size, it is a long-distance migrant, with some populations traveling to tropical coastlines for winter.

Habitat

Coastal beaches, shingle banks, sandspits, and occasionally inland salt pans or large rivers.

Range

Breeds across Europe, Asia, North Africa, and Australasia; winters in tropical coastal regions.

Similar & commonly confused birds

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

Heard a Little 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