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

Whiskered Tern

Chlidonias hybrida

A medium-sized marsh tern distinguished by its white cheeks contrasting with a black cap and dark belly during the breeding season.

What it sounds like

A harsh, rasping 'kreek' or 'ky-ik' that is shorter and less grating than the Black Tern's call.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:14

Rec. Peter Boesman · ChinaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is the largest species within the 'marsh tern' genus, Chlidonias.
The species name 'hybrida' refers to its appearance, which was historically thought to be a mix between a marsh tern and a sea tern.
Nests are typically constructed as floating platforms on mats of aquatic vegetation in shallow water.
Unlike many terns, it rarely plunge-dives, preferring to snatch insects and small fish from the surface or mid-air.
It undergoes a dramatic seasonal transformation, losing its dark underparts for a pale, streaked winter plumage.

Habitat

Freshwater marshes, shallow lakes, rice paddies, and slow-moving rivers.

Range

Discontinuous range across southern Europe, Africa, southern Asia, and Australia.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Black TernChlidonias niger Black-fronted TernChlidonias albostriatus White-winged TernChlidonias leucopterus

Heard a Whiskered Tern?

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