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

African Cuckoo

Cuculus gularis

An intra-African migrant and brood parasite, the African Cuckoo is visually nearly identical to the Common Cuckoo but distinguished by its bill color and distinct vocalizations.

What it sounds like

A clear, fluty 'hoo-hu' or 'up-up', where the second note is lower in pitch than the first.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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

Field notes

Distinguished from the Common Cuckoo by a yellow bill base that extends beyond the nostrils.
Primarily a brood parasite of the Fork-tailed Drongo, with eggs evolved to mimic the host's speckled pattern.
Unlike the Common Cuckoo, the African Cuckoo is an intra-African migrant, moving between northern and southern savannas.
Specializes in consuming hairy caterpillars, often shaking them to remove toxic guts before ingestion.
Juveniles possess distinct white-fringed feathers on the mantle and wings, providing a scalloped appearance.

Habitat

Open deciduous woodlands, acacia savanna, and riverine forest edges.

Range

Widespread across sub-Saharan Africa, excluding the dense Congo rainforest and extreme arid deserts.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Black CuckooCuculus clamosus Common CuckooCuculus canorus Himalayan CuckooCuculus saturatus Indian CuckooCuculus micropterus Lesser CuckooCuculus poliocephalus Madagascar CuckooCuculus rochii Oriental CuckooCuculus optatus Red-chested CuckooCuculus solitarius

Heard a African Cuckoo?

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