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

Tanzanian Red-billed Hornbill

Tockus ruahae

A small, endemic Tanzanian hornbill distinguished by its strikingly pale eyes and curved red bill, commonly found in dry savanna ecosystems.

What it sounds like

An accelerating series of rhythmic, clucking 'wha-wha-wha' notes, often performed with wings slightly spread.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:47

Rec. Barry Edmonston · TanzaniaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is uniquely identified within the red-billed hornbill complex by its pale yellowish-white iris.
The female undergoes a complete simultaneous molt of all flight feathers while sealed inside her mud-plastered nest cavity.
During the nesting period, the male is the sole provider, delivering food to the female and chicks through a narrow vertical slit.
It was taxonomically split from the Greater Red-billed Hornbill (Tockus erythrorhynchus) based on distinct morphological and vocal characteristics.
Foraging is primarily terrestrial, where it hunts for insects, small mammals, and reptiles during the dry season.

Habitat

Arid thornbush, acacia savanna, and open deciduous woodlands.

Range

Endemic to central Tanzania, centered around the Ruaha ecosystem.

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 Southern Yellow-billed HornbillTockus leucomelas

Heard a Tanzanian Red-billed Hornbill?

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