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

River Tern

Sterna aurantia

A slender, medium-sized freshwater tern known for its bright yellow bill and deeply forked tail. It is a social breeder often seen patrolling large rivers and inland lakes for small fish.

What it sounds like

A harsh, high-pitched, and rasping 'kyee-er' or 'kree-er'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:03

Rec. Jelle Scharringa · IndiaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

During the breeding season, adults develop a distinctive glossy black cap that contrasts with their pale grey upperparts.
They are highly colonial nesters, often sharing sandbar breeding sites with species like the Indian Skimmer.
Unlike many other tern species, the River Tern is almost exclusively restricted to freshwater environments.
Nesting occurs in shallow scrapes on the ground, making eggs vulnerable to flooding and human disturbance.
The species is currently classified as Near Threatened due to habitat loss and the construction of dams that submerge nesting islands.

Habitat

Large inland rivers, freshwater lakes, and man-made reservoirs.

Range

Southern Asia, ranging from eastern Iran through the Indian Subcontinent to Southeast Asia.

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 Kerguelen TernSterna virgata Roseate TernSterna dougallii

Heard a River 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