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

Eastern Yellow-billed Hornbill

Tockus flavirostris

A medium-sized hornbill easily identified by its massive, bright yellow beak and distinctive white-spotted black plumage. It is a conspicuous inhabitant of East African drylands often seen foraging on the ground.

What it sounds like

A rhythmic series of accelerating 'tok-tok-tok' notes that crescendo into loud, clucking sounds.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 1:04

Rec. Andrew Spencer · EthiopiaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

The female seals herself inside a nesting cavity with mud and droppings, leaving only a narrow slit for the male to pass food.
They engage in a mutualistic foraging relationship with dwarf mongooses, catching insects flushed by the mammals.
Unlike its Southern relative, the Eastern Yellow-billed Hornbill has blackish rather than pinkish bare skin around the eyes.
During territorial displays, birds bow their heads deeply and arch their wings while emitting loud rhythmic calls.
Their diet is highly opportunistic, ranging from seeds and fruit to insects, scorpions, and small reptiles.

Habitat

Dry acacia savanna, arid thorn scrub, and open broad-leaved woodlands.

Range

East Africa, specifically Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, and northern Tanzania.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Damara Red-billed HornbillTockus damarensis Jackson's HornbillTockus jacksoni Monteiro's HornbillTockus monteiri Northern Red-billed HornbillTockus erythrorhynchus Southern Red-billed HornbillTockus rufirostris Southern Red-billed HornbillTockus rufirostris Southern Yellow-billed HornbillTockus leucomelas Tanzanian Red-billed HornbillTockus ruahae

Heard a Eastern Yellow-billed Hornbill?

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