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

Clapperton's Spurfowl

Pternistis clappertoni

A medium-sized terrestrial gamebird of the Phasianidae family, distinguished by its intricate black-and-white streaked plumage and vibrant facial markings. It is a social species often found in small coveys across the semi-arid belts of North-Central Africa.

What it sounds like

A loud, harsh, and repetitive 'krak-krak-krak-krak' or 'cha-cha-cha,' often accelerating into a mechanical rattle.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:29

Rec. Phil Shaw · UgandaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

The species is named after Hugh Clapperton, a Scottish explorer who traveled extensively through West and Central Africa in the 1820s.
It features prominent bare red skin around the eyes and on the throat, which can flush more brightly during territorial displays.
Adults display a unique facial pattern consisting of a bold white supercilium and a white stripe below the eye, separated by a dark malar band.
They are primarily crepuscular, being most active during the cooler hours of dawn and dusk to forage for seeds, tubers, and insects.
While strong flyers over short distances, they are 'pedestrian' birds that prefer to sprint into dense thorny cover when threatened.

Habitat

Dry acacia savanna, bushy scrubland, and cultivated fields, usually in close proximity to permanent water sources.

Range

The Sahelian zone of Africa, ranging from Mauritania and Mali eastward through Chad and Sudan to Ethiopia and Eritrea.

Similar & commonly confused birds

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

Heard a Clapperton's 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