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

White-tailed Tropicbird

Phaethon lepturus

The smallest of the three tropicbird species, this elegant seabird is recognized by its stark white plumage and exceptionally long central tail streamers. It is a highly pelagic species that spends most of its life over open tropical waters, returning to land only to breed.

What it sounds like

A series of harsh, clicking, or screaming sounds described as a rapid 'keck-keck-keck' or a sharp 'vreet'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:35

Rec. Dries Van de Loock · SeychellesCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

The two central tail feathers, or streamers, can reach up to 45 centimeters, nearly doubling the bird's total length.
Unlike many seabirds that nest on open ground, this species often utilizes cliff crevices, limestone holes, or even hollow trees for nesting.
They are proficient plunge-divers, dropping from heights of up to 20 meters to capture prey such as flying fish and squid.
During courtship, pairs engage in spectacular synchronized aerial displays, including vertical zig-zags and downward glides with wings held in a high 'V'.
In Bermuda, where it is a national symbol known as the 'Longtail', its annual return from the sea is celebrated as the first sign of spring.

Habitat

Tropical and subtropical oceanic waters; nests on rocky island cliffs, coral atolls, and occasionally inland forest trees.

Range

Pantropical distribution across the Atlantic, Indian, and western/central Pacific Oceans.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Red-billed TropicbirdPhaethon aethereus Red-tailed TropicbirdPhaethon rubricauda

Heard a White-tailed Tropicbird?

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