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

Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill

Tockus leucomelas

A distinctive medium-sized hornbill of Southern Africa, easily recognized by its massive, curved yellow bill and white-flecked plumage. It is a conspicuous inhabitant of dry savannas, often seen foraging on the ground or perching in acacia trees.

What it sounds like

A repetitive, accelerating series of clucking 'tok-tok-tok' notes that build into a loud, cackling chorus.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:41

Rec. Dries Van de Loock · ZimbabweCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

Commonly nicknamed the 'flying banana' due to the prominent shape and bright coloration of its oversized beak.
The female is sealed into a nesting cavity using a mixture of mud, droppings, and fruit pulp for the duration of incubation.
They maintain a mutualistic relationship with dwarf mongooses, often foraging together to benefit from shared predator detection.
The species is largely terrestrial, spending significant time walking on the ground to hunt for insects, scorpions, and small rodents.
Despite its heavy appearance, the large bill is surprisingly light, consisting of a hollow structure supported by internal bony struts.

Habitat

Dry acacia woodlands, arid savannas, and thorny scrublands.

Range

Southern Africa, spanning from South Africa and Namibia to Botswana and Zimbabwe.

Similar & commonly confused birds

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

Heard a Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill?

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