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-Hawk

Aviceda cuculoides

A medium-sized, secretive raptor characterized by its striking plumage mimicry of the Common Cuckoo and its preference for dense woodland canopies.

What it sounds like

A clear, high-pitched two-syllable whistle, often rendered as 'pwee-pwee' or 'ti-uu, ti-uu'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Alain Verneau · GhanaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It exhibits Batesian mimicry, evolving barred underparts that resemble a cuckoo or sparrowhawk to deceive smaller birds and avoid mobbing.
The upper mandible features two distinct tomial teeth on each side, a specialized feature of the genus Aviceda used for processing large insect prey.
Primarily insectivorous, its diet consists largely of grasshoppers, mantids, and caterpillars, supplemented by small reptiles and amphibians.
Courtship involves spectacular aerial displays where pairs perform high-circling maneuvers and rapid, undulating dives while calling loudly.
The species is largely sedentary throughout its range, though some southern populations may engage in local seasonal movements influenced by rainfall.

Habitat

Moist evergreen forests, forest edges, and well-wooded savanna or riverine thickets.

Range

Widespread throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, from Senegal east to Ethiopia and south to eastern South Africa.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Black BazaAviceda leuphotes Jerdon's BazaAviceda jerdoni Jerdon's BazaAviceda jerdoni Madagascar Cuckoo-HawkAviceda madagascariensis Pacific BazaAviceda subcristata

Heard a African Cuckoo-Hawk?

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