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

Western Red-billed Hornbill

Tockus kempi

A small, ground-foraging hornbill of West African savannas, recognized by its slender, curved red bill and white-spotted wing coverts.

What it sounds like

An accelerating series of rhythmic, clucking 'tok-tok-tok' notes that crescendos into a sequence of double-syllable 'kuk-we' sounds.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Romuald Mikusek · GambiaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Formerly considered a subspecies of the Red-billed Hornbill (Tockus erythrorhynchus) before being elevated to species status.
During nesting, the female is sealed inside a tree cavity with mud and droppings, leaving only a narrow slit for the male to provide food.
It possesses fused first and second neck vertebrae (the atlas and axis) to provide a stable platform for its heavy bill.
Unlike many larger hornbill species, it lacks a prominent casque on the upper mandible, showing only a slight ridge.
Primarily insectivorous, it is often seen walking or hopping on the ground to hunt for grasshoppers, beetles, and small lizards.

Habitat

Arid savannas, open thorn scrub, and dry woodlands.

Range

West Africa, ranging from Senegal and Gambia east to western Mali.

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 Western Red-billed Hornbill?

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