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

Chestnut-naped Spurfowl

Pternistis castaneicollis

The Chestnut-naped Spurfowl is a large, robust gamebird endemic to the high-altitude moorlands and forests of the Horn of Africa. It is easily distinguished by its rich chestnut hindneck and heavily streaked underparts.

What it sounds like

A loud, harsh, and grating series of 'kerr-kerr-kerr' or 'kuck-kuck' notes that often accelerate into a raucous cackle.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:52

Rec. Hans Matheve · EthiopiaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is one of the highest-dwelling spurfowls, frequently found at elevations ranging from 1,500 up to 4,000 meters above sea level.
The species displays sexual dimorphism in its weaponry, with males often sporting two sharp spurs on each tarsus for territorial combat.
Unlike many lowland relatives, it often seeks refuge in dense bamboo thickets and giant heath (Erica) zones within afro-alpine environments.
It is primarily terrestrial and secretive, preferring to escape threats by running into thick cover rather than taking flight.
Its diet is opportunistic, consisting of tubers, seeds, and various insects unearthed by scratching through high-altitude soil and leaf litter.

Habitat

Montane forests, bamboo zones, and high-altitude afro-alpine moorlands.

Range

Ethiopian Highlands and northern Somalia.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Ahanta SpurfowlPternistis ahantensis Cape SpurfowlPternistis capensis Clapperton's SpurfowlPternistis clappertoni Djibouti SpurfowlPternistis ochropectus Double-spurred SpurfowlPternistis bicalcaratus Erckel's SpurfowlPternistis erckelii Gray-breasted SpurfowlPternistis rufopictus Gray-striped SpurfowlPternistis griseostriatus

Heard a Chestnut-naped Spurfowl?

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