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

Erckel's Spurfowl

Pternistis erckelii

The Erckel's Spurfowl is a large, robust ground bird characterized by its striking chestnut crown, black forehead, and heavily streaked greyish-brown plumage.

What it sounds like

A loud, harsh, accelerating series of cackles that begins slowly and gains tempo, sounding like 'krak-krak-krak-krak-krak'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:18

Rec. Rolf A. de By · EthiopiaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is the largest member of the spurfowl genus, with males notably possessing two sharp spurs on each leg used for territorial combat.
Native to the Horn of Africa, it was successfully introduced to the Hawaiian Islands in 1957 as a game bird.
Unlike many related species, it is frequently found at high altitudes, reaching elevations of up to 3,500 meters in its native Ethiopian Highlands.
The species is named in honor of Theodor Erckel, a 19th-century German naturalist and taxidermist.
During the breeding season, males perform conspicuous 'advertisement' calls from high rocks or termite mounds to defend their territory.

Habitat

Steep, rocky hillsides with dense scrub, forest edges, and montane grasslands.

Range

Native to Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Sudan; introduced to the Hawaiian Islands.

Similar & commonly confused birds

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

Heard a Erckel's Spurfowl?

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