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

Northern Red-billed Hornbill

Tockus erythrorhynchus

A small, ground-foraging hornbill easily identified by its slender, decurved red bill and black-and-white plumage.

What it sounds like

A series of accelerating, clucking 'kok-kok-kok-kokok-kokok' notes that build into a loud, rhythmic cackle.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Marc Languy · Burkina FasoCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

The female seals herself inside a nesting cavity using mud and droppings, leaving only a narrow slit through which the male passes food.
They often form a mutualistic relationship with dwarf mongooses, catching insects that the mongooses flush out while foraging.
Unlike many other hornbill species, the Northern Red-billed Hornbill lacks a prominent casque on top of its upper mandible.
The species is largely terrestrial, spending a significant portion of its day hopping on the ground to hunt for insects and small vertebrates.
This bird served as the biological inspiration for the character Zazu in Disney's 'The Lion King'.

Habitat

Dry savannas, open acacia woodlands, and semi-arid thorn scrub.

Range

Sub-Saharan Africa, ranging from Senegal and Gambia east to Ethiopia and Somalia.

Similar & commonly confused birds

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

Heard a Northern Red-billed Hornbill?

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Identify a bird by its song