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

Sandwich Tern

Thalasseus sandvicensis

A medium-sized, slender tern distinguished by its shaggy black crest and a characteristic black bill with a diagnostic yellow tip.

What it sounds like

A loud, harsh, and grating 'kirrick' or 'kear-ick' that is often audible from a great distance.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Lars Edenius · SwedenCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

The species name 'sandvicensis' refers to Sandwich, Kent, where the bird was first scientifically described in 1787.
Its bill appears as if the tip has been dipped in yellow paint, serving as a primary field mark for identification.
They are highly gregarious and often nest in incredibly dense colonies, sometimes exceeding 10 pairs per square meter.
This species utilizes a 'crèche' system where older chicks gather in large groups for protection while parents are foraging at sea.
They are specialized plunge-divers, performing steep aerial drops to capture small surface-schooling fish like sandeels and sprats.

Habitat

Coastal beaches, offshore islands, sandbars, and saltwater lagoons.

Range

Breeds on coasts of Europe and the Americas; winters south to Africa, the Indian Subcontinent, and South America.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Chinese Crested TernThalasseus bernsteini Elegant TernThalasseus elegans Great Crested TernThalasseus bergii Lesser Crested TernThalasseus bengalensis Royal TernThalasseus maximus West African Crested TernThalasseus albididorsalis

Heard a Sandwich 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