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

Brown-cheeked Hornbill

Bycanistes cylindricus

The Brown-cheeked Hornbill is a large, striking forest bird of West Africa, recognized by its cream-colored rump and the male's prominent, pale casque.

What it sounds like

A series of loud, rhythmic, and harsh braying notes often described as 'kak-kak-kak'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Étienne Leroy · Ivory CoastCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is sexually dimorphic; males possess a large, yellowish-cream casque while females have a significantly smaller, blackish bill and casque.
The species is listed as Vulnerable due to the rapid clearance of primary lowland forests and hunting pressure across its range.
During nesting, the female seals herself inside a tree cavity using a paste of mud and droppings, leaving only a narrow slit for the male to pass food.
It is a specialized frugivore that plays a vital ecological role as a long-distance seed disperser for large-seeded tropical trees.
The 'brown-cheeked' moniker refers to the distinctive rufous-brown feathering on the sides of the head, which contrasts with its black throat.

Habitat

Primary lowland evergreen forests and mature secondary forests.

Range

West Africa, restricted to the Upper Guinean forest block from Guinea to Ghana.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Black-and-white-casqued HornbillBycanistes subcylindricus Piping HornbillBycanistes fistulator Silvery-cheeked HornbillBycanistes brevis Silvery-cheeked HornbillBycanistes brevis Trumpeter HornbillBycanistes bucinator White-thighed HornbillBycanistes albotibialis

Heard a Brown-cheeked Hornbill?

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