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

Giant Kingfisher

Megaceryle maxima

The largest kingfisher in Africa, the Giant Kingfisher is a robust, crested bird characterized by its bold black-and-white spotting and powerful dagger-like bill.

What it sounds like

A loud, harsh, and rhythmic mechanical 'kek-kek-kek-kek' often uttered during flight.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. isaac kilusu · TanzaniaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It displays striking sexual dimorphism: males have a chestnut breast with a white belly, while females feature a white-spotted black breast and a chestnut belly.
Nesting burrows are excavated into vertical earthen banks and can reach a remarkable length of up to 8.5 meters.
The species is predominantly a sit-and-wait predator, preferring to dive from a high perch rather than hovering over the water.
Its diet is exceptionally broad for a kingfisher, frequently including large crabs and amphibians alongside fish.
Pairs are highly territorial, patrolling several kilometers of riverfront and aggressively driving away conspecifics.

Habitat

Wooded rivers, streams, lakes, dams, and occasionally coastal lagoons or estuaries.

Range

Sub-Saharan Africa, ranging from Senegal to Ethiopia and south to South Africa.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Belted KingfisherMegaceryle alcyon Crested KingfisherMegaceryle lugubris Ringed KingfisherMegaceryle torquata

Heard a Giant Kingfisher?

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