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 Hobby

Falco cuvierii

A small, elegant falcon of sub-Saharan Africa characterized by its rapid flight and striking rufous underparts.

What it sounds like

A high-pitched, rapid, and shrill series of 'kik-kik-kik-kik' notes.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:14

Rec. Paul Lenrumé · GuineaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Specializes in aerial hunting, capturing large insects and small birds with high-speed maneuvers mid-air.
Exhibits crepuscular behavior, frequently hunting bats and swarming termites at dawn and dusk.
Does not construct its own nest, instead repurposing the abandoned stick nests of crows, kites, or other raptors.
Displays a distinctive plumage with a dark slate-grey upperside and deep rufous underparts finely streaked with black.
Reaches a total body length of only 26–30 cm, making it one of the smallest members of the genus Falco in Africa.

Habitat

Savannas, moist woodland edges, and palm groves, often near water or human settlements.

Range

Widespread across sub-Saharan Africa, though largely absent from the most arid desert regions.

Similar & commonly confused birds

American KestrelFalco sparverius Amur FalconFalco amurensis Aplomado FalconFalco femoralis Australian HobbyFalco longipennis Banded KestrelFalco zoniventris Bat FalconFalco rufigularis Black FalconFalco subniger Brown FalconFalco berigora

Heard a African Hobby?

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