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

Yellow-casqued Hornbill

Ceratogymna elata

The Yellow-casqued Hornbill is a large, canopy-dwelling bird of West and Central African rainforests, known for its massive, cream-colored casque and significant role in seed dispersal.

What it sounds like

A series of loud, harsh, rhythmic barks and resonant 'kok-kok-kok' sounds that carry over long distances.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:53

Rec. Brendan Sloan · Sierra LeoneCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is among the largest hornbill species in Africa, reaching up to 90 centimeters in length.
The species exhibits sexual dimorphism; females possess a smaller, dark casque and rufous-colored feathers on their head and neck.
During the nesting period, the female is walled into a tree cavity with mud, relying entirely on the male to deliver food through a narrow slit.
The distinctive casque is made of keratin and is hollow, likely serving as a resonating chamber to amplify its loud vocalizations.
They are primarily frugivorous, specializing in high-lipid fruits from trees like the oil palm and various mahogany species.

Habitat

Primary lowland evergreen rainforests and mature secondary forests.

Range

West and Central Africa, from Senegal and Guinea east to Cameroon.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Black-casqued HornbillCeratogymna atrata

Heard a Yellow-casqued Hornbill?

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