Best Bird Apps

10 Best Birding Apps for Birders of All Levels

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Welcome to the wonderful world of birding! Whether you’re a seasoned birder or just starting out, there’s no doubt that birding can be an incredibly rewarding hobby. Not only is it a great way to connect with nature, but it can also be a fun and challenging puzzle to solve.

But where do you start? With so many different birding apps available, it can be tough to know which ones are worth your time. That’s why we’ve put together this list of the 10 best birding apps for birders of all levels.

So whether you’re looking for an app that will help you identify birds or one that will keep track of your sightings, we’ve got you covered.

Audubon Bird Guide: North America

  • Price: Free
  • Available on: Android, iOS

The Audubon Bird Guide: North America phone app contains an amazing amount of information on birds found in North America.

With over 800 species and 3,000 images, this app is a valuable resource for bird enthusiasts of all levels.

The 8 hours of bird sounds make it easy to identify different bird calls, and the eBird-integrated explore section makes it easy to find information on specific birds.

The sleek design makes this app fun and easy to use, and there are no in-app purchases! It offers excellent audio recordings and birding hotspots. 

Overall, the Audubon Bird Guide: North America phone app is an excellent resource for bird enthusiasts of all levels. It’s an app you want to take to your birding trips. 

Merlin Bird ID

  • Price: Free
  • Available on: Android and iOS

The Merlin Bird ID app is a great tool to help identify birds you may see while out and about.

The app asks five questions about the bird, such as its color and size. Once the questions are answered, the app provides a list of possible bird species that the bird could be.

The app also includes information about each bird species listed, such as their distribution and diet.

Additionally, the Merlin Bird ID app can identify birds by their song. To do this, the app asks questions about the song, such as its tempo and pitch.

The app then provides a list of possible bird species that the song could be. The Merlin Bird ID app lets users explore field guides in any region by downloading bird packs. These bird packs include beautiful calls, photos, and distributions of different bird species.

eBird

  • Price: Free
  • Available on: Android and iOS

The eBird app is an excellent tool for birders of all levels. Whether a beginner or an experienced birder, the eBird app can help you keep track of your sightings and better understand bird distribution and behavior.

The app offers many great features, such as the ability to:

  • Record the date, time, location, and species of birds you see
  • Upload photos of birds
  • View local checklists and hotspots
  • See how your sightings compare to others in your area
  • Get real-time alerts about rare birds near you

The eBird app is free to download and easy to use. It is available for both Android and iOS devices.

iNaturalist

  • Price: Free
  • Available on: Android and iOS

iNaturalist is an app created to help people identify the plants and animals they see in the wild.

It is a joint effort between the California Academy of Sciences and the University of California, Berkeley. The app can be used by anyone, whether you are a beginner or an expert in natural history.

To use the app, you must create an account and upload photos of the plants or animals you have seen.

The app has a built-in camera function, so you can easily take a picture of the plant or animal and upload it to the app.

Once you have uploaded a photo, the app will use artificial intelligence to try and identify the species.

If it cannot identify the species, other members of the iNaturalist community can help identify it. You can also use the app to find out more information about the species, such as where it is found and its conservation status.

Raptor ID

  • Price: Free
  • Available on: Android and iOS

If you’re looking to identify raptors (hawks, falcons, eagles, and more), the Raptor ID app from HawkWatch International and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology is a must-have.

It includes expert advice, range maps, and annotated photos for each raptor species. Best of all, the videos in the app are amazing – you can see exactly what to look for when identifying raptors.

Whether a beginner or an expert, Raptor ID is the perfect tool for learning about and identifying raptors.

Raptors can be tricky to identify, but this app is a lot easier. I highly recommend this app to anyone who wants to learn more about raptors.

Song Sleuth

  • Price: Free
  • Available on: Android and iOS

The Song Sleuth phone app is a convenient way to identify the songs of birds that you may hear while out and about.

The app listens to the bird songs around you and then suggests possible matches.

Once you have identified the bird, the app provides detailed information on the species. Viewing your recording as a spectrogram in the app gives you another avenue for identification.

This visual representation of the sound can be just as distinctive as a bird’s physical appearance. The Song Sleuth app is a great tool for anyone who enjoys birding!

However, this app is designed more for experienced birders. While it provides some information on the bird once it has been identified, we recommend looking for another app if you are a beginner birder.

iBird Pro

  • Price: $14.99
  • Available on: Android and iOS

The iBird Pro phone app is great for bird enthusiasts of all experience levels. The app has an extensive database of over 1000 bird species, with illustrations and recordings of each bird’s song.

The Photo Sleuth feature allows you to identify birds by their pictures, even if they are grainy or out of focus.

Additionally, the search function lets you look for birds by their physical characteristics, such as size, shape, and color. This makes it easy to find the right bird, whether you know its name or not.

The app also includes bird packs for the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hawaii, and Palau.

These packs include detailed information on where to find each species and when they are most active. The iBird Pro phone app is great for anyone interested in birds.

Chirp!

  • Price: $3.99
  • Available on: iOS

Chirp! is one of the best bird-call identification apps on the market. With over 300 bird songs and calls, it can be difficult to distinguish one bird song from another.

However, with this app, beginners can start by learning the calls of birds commonly found in their area.

The app also arranges the sounds by song type or by the commonness of species.

There are also quizzes to help you learn how to identify bird calls. The app also has a slideshow feature that showcases different types of birds and their habitats. This is a great app for anyone who wants to learn more about birds and their calls.

BirdsEye

  • Price: Free
  • Available on: Android and iOS

If you’re into birding, then the BirdsEye phone app is definitely one you’ll want to check out.

It’s a suite of apps that are among the best bird apps for Android and iPhone, and they’ve done it again with their Birding Finding Guide.

This syncs with other bird apps like eBird for updated sighting information and bird list synchronization.

This is the best bird app for those looking to increase their life list–it alerts you which birds have been sighted near your GPS location that is still missing from your birding lists.

For trips, you can also access bird sound packages from Birdsounds.nl, driving directions, and local birding information. The BirdsEye app can alert you when rare birds have been sighted in your area!

Larkwire

  • Price: Free
  • Available on: iOS

Larkwire is the perfect app for learning to identify birds by their sound. The lessons are presented as games that have been optimized using the latest cognitive learning techniques, so successful learning is practically guaranteed.

In addition to the excellent instruction, Larkwire features over 2,500 digitally mastered song and call recordings of over 400 North American birds.

The recordings are clear and noise-free, making it easy to learn the correct pronunciation.

With its adaptive algorithm, Larkwire adjusts to your learning style, ensuring you get the most out of the experience.

And if you ever need a refresher course, Larkwire can be used offline. So whether you’re a beginner or an experienced birder, Larkwire is sure to help you hone your skills.

The Best Birding Apps for Beginners

When looking for a birding app, it is important to find one that is good for beginners.

Some apps are more complex and may be overwhelming for those starting out. Other apps have very limited information or lack important features for beginners.

The best birding apps for beginners provide illustrations and recordings of each bird’s song and pictures of the bird for identification purposes.

best birding apps

They also have a search function that lets you look for birds by their physical characteristics. This makes it easy to find the right bird, whether you know its name or not.

Another important feature for beginners is an easy-to-use interface. The app should be easy to navigate and understand. It is also helpful if the app includes tutorials or quizzes to help you learn how to identify birds by their calls.

Larkwire is an excellent app for beginners as it provides clear recordings of bird songs and has an adaptive learning algorithm that ensures successful learning.

How To Use Birding Apps to Increase Your Life List

If you want to add new birds to your life list, you can do a few things with birding apps to make the process easier.

First, check the app store for any updates or new versions of your app. New versions may include new features or updated information that can be helpful in your quest to add new birds to your life list.

Next, take advantage of the GPS feature on your phone. Many birding apps use GPS to track your location and provide information on birds that have been sighted in the area. This is a great way to find new birds to add to your list.

Finally, be sure to check the app store rating and reviews before downloading any new birding app.

This will help you avoid any app that is not well-made or does not provide accurate information.

How To Identify Birds by Their Song With Birding Apps

One of the best ways to identify birds is by their song. Unfortunately, not all birders are blessed with perfect pitch or a great ear for music. This is where birding apps can come in handy.

Most birding apps that include song identification feature clear recordings of each bird’s call.

This makes it easier to identify the bird, even if unfamiliar with its song. In addition, many apps also include pictures of the bird, so you can be sure you are identifying the correct species.

Some birding apps also include a function that allows you to slow down the recordings.

This can be helpful if you are having trouble identifying a bird by its song. By slowing down the recording, you can pick out individual notes and better match them to the bird you are trying to identify.

Larkwire is an excellent app for identifying birds by their song. It includes over 2,500 recordings of 400 North American birds, all of which are clear and noise-free. The app’s adaptive learning algorithm ensures you get the most out of the experience.

Wrapping Up

These are just a few of the many great birding apps available. No matter what your level of experience is, there is sure to be an app that meets your needs. So don’t wait any longer. Get out there and start spotting some birds.

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