# Bird Codes — Quick 4-letter code lookup

> Reference app for bird species alpha code lookup. (iPhone/iPad app by Nemesis Code.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bird-codes/id500496362 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Nemesis Code](https://appshunter.io/developer/500496365)
- Category: Reference, Education
- Price: Free
- Rating: 4.80/5 from 95 App Store ratings · 42 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 9.0 · 4 MB
- Languages: American English, French (France), German (Germany), Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Russian, European Spanish
- Released: 2012-02-11
- Data updated: 2026-07-03
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bird-codes/id500496362/reviews.md

## What is Bird Codes?

Are you looking for a way to speed up your field notes so you can focus on actually looking at birds? Do you see birders using codes for birds on listservs and want to look them up? Do you want to enter your eBird checklists faster?

Alpha codes are four letter abbreviations assigned to bird species as a quick way to refer to them. These codes are commonly used in field notes to quickly record sightings and other situations where writing down the entire species name is impractical. This app allows you to search and learn the alpha codes created using the Pyle and DeSante (2003) system which defines alpha codes for all 2078 species recorded in the AOU (American Ornithologists’ Union) area. You can quickly search by either the birds name or by the alpha code.

## Key features

- Search by bird name
- Search by alpha code
- Lookup for 2078 species
- Uses Pyle and DeSante (2003) system
- Speed up field notes
- Faster eBird checklist entry

## Recent user reviews (10 of 42)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bird-codes/id500496362/reviews.md

### 3/5 — UPDATE THIS APP

*2023-11-03, version 2.2*

This app has not been updated for 6 years. There have been numerous taxonomic splits, lumps, & renames in that time & this app is woefully behind the times. If it was regularly updated, I would give it 5 stars. As it is right now, it’s a 3.

### 5/5 — Love this app!

*2023-04-14, version 2.2*

Perfect--just what I needed to find these codes. I refer to it often.

### 5/5 — Excellent

*2022-04-19, version 2.2*

So easy to use , thank you

### 4/5 — Terrific app, needs taxonomic update

*2022-03-29, version 2.2*

I rely on this app (ver. 2.2) as the quickest way to search for band codes and proper scientific names but it is out-of-date. It could benefit from adding new US birds (accepted vagrants) and a taxonomy update, reflecting splits: 
- Western Scrub-Jay to California and Woodhouse’s in 2016;
- Clapper Rail to Clapper and Ridgway’s in 2014;
- genus split for the North American cormorants in 2021.
- et al.

### 5/5 — It’s the conflicts I want to know

*2022-03-23, version 2.2*

CEWA was my first.  More recently NOSH surprised me.  So many wrens it was bound to happen, so we skip CAWR.  It takes time ( maybe many years) to encounter them.

So it would be nice if the app displayed species in conflict when you enter a guess that’s not a legitimate code.

### 5/5 — Functional

*2021-09-25, version 2.2*

No bells and whistles. Just exactly what you need to confirm a banding code.

### 1/5 — Keeps closing

*2021-04-14, version 2.2*

I have the latest iPhone update and this app won’t open.

### 2/5 — Never updated

*2020-07-14, version 2.2*

Names and codes need to be updated regularly. These are not, so it’s useless.

### 5/5 — Easy Banding codes / 4 letter codes

*2017-09-27, version 2.2*

Next time you want to make sure you’re not crazy, that there isn’t anything normally called a YHBB or a CEWA, you can check here instantly. One thing well.

### 5/5 — Pleasantly surprised

*2017-05-06, version 2.1*

There really is an app for everything..

## Frequently asked questions about Bird Codes

### What does the Bird Codes app do?

This app allows you to quickly search for and learn the four-letter alpha codes assigned to bird species. These codes are commonly used by birders to speed up field notes and data entry, such as for eBird checklists.

### What system does Bird Codes use for alpha codes?

The app utilizes the alpha code system defined by Pyle and DeSante (2003). This system provides alpha codes for all 2078 species recorded within the AOU (American Ornithologists’ Union) area.

### How can I search for a bird's alpha code?

You can search for a bird's alpha code in two ways: by entering the bird's common name or by entering the four-letter alpha code itself. This dual search functionality makes it easy to find the information you need.

### Is this app free to use?

Yes, the Bird Codes app is completely free to use. There are no in-app purchases or advertisements, allowing for an uninterrupted experience while you look up bird codes.

### Who would benefit from using this app?

This app is ideal for birdwatchers, ornithologists, and anyone who keeps field notes or submits data to platforms like eBird. It's designed to streamline the process of recording bird sightings by providing quick access to standardized abbreviations.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 2.2 — 2017-09-26

This app has been updated by Apple to display the Apple Watch app icon.

Updated to work with iOS 11. Now with less blurriness on screens made this decade.

### 2.1 — 2012-09-07

Version 2.1

Unified Search Bar
* Search for both a birds alpha code and common name from the same search bar, no need to switch back and forth.

UI Enhancements
* 168% as pretty as the old version for 2x as much fun as you learn.

Version 2.0

Speed enhancements!
* Search is blazing now, instant results as you type.

### 2.0.1 — 2012-06-04

Bug fixes

### 2.0 — 2012-05-26

Completely rebuilt natively to provide faster search results
New social options to easily share codes or email to yourself for reference

### 1.1 — 2012-03-02

Search and speed optimizations

## Apps similar to Bird Codes

| App | Rating | Price | Category |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Chirp! Bird Songs & Calls USA](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chirp-bird-songs-and-calls-usa/id364891918) | 4.7 (481) | $3.99 | Reference |
| [ABA/AOU Bird Codes](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/abaaou-bird-codes/id1523235152) | 5.0 (1) | $0.99 | Reference |

## More apps by Nemesis Code

- [Band Codes](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/band-codes/id509221314)

All apps by Nemesis Code: https://appshunter.io/developer/500496365

## Related topics

[nemesis code](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/nemesis-code) · [birdcode](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/birdcode)

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-07-03.*