# Bird Journal — user reviews > 51 indexed App Store user reviews of Bird Journal by Bluebird Technology Limited, rated 3.00/5 from 16 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bird-journal/id456599754/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bird-journal/id456599754.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 4 · 4★ 4 · 3★ 1 · 2★ 2 · 1★ 5 ## Newest reviews (12 of 51) ### 4/5 — A great app to record birds sightings in the field! *2026-06-30* The website that this app is linked to has been great for me to record my birding observations. Unlike ebird, it does not require one to enter any data other than the bird names, which makes it quick and efficient for me in the field. It allows you to use different bird taxonomy lists (like IOC, Clements, and others rather than Clements alone which I find very conservative. It will soon add Avilist as well. The app used to lag in features compared to the website, but in the recently released version it now has almost all the features from the website and the search features are much improved. Some disadvantages are the significant lag of publishing updated taxonomies (up to a year!) and of course, that this app is not free. ### 4/5 — Needs updating *2023-08-31, version 5.1.168* App not matching birds for uk. Cannot add recent sightings of Boobys etc. when will it be updated to current species naming conventions and sightings. ### 3/5 — Website is great; app is limited *2022-05-30* Entering and viewing sightings is excellent on the website version of this tool. But the iOS app lacks so many features that it’s almost useless. Examples: 1) Cannot filter species by name or family. If you have a long list of species, you have to painfully scroll down. The filters are limited to date and location—if I knew those I wouldn’t need to look up species. 2) Species page doesn’t list sightings. It just shows first and last dates. 3) Entries list has no way to jump down to an early date. If you have lots of entries it’s tedious to scroll toward bottom. 4) New locations cannot be given a latitude/longitude. I might understand if you couldn’t select from a map like on the website, but you cannot even enter coordinates manually. I’ll stick with the website for most uses unless/until the app is improved. ### 4/5 — Good App but Has it’s Limitations *2021-12-04, version 5.1.168* I recently saw a pair of Common Mergansers in the UK but the app didn’t give me the option to add the species from its list; instead I had to say I saw 2 Red-Headed Mergansers - the list of species needs updating. I’d also like to share information with groups of friends to see which species of birds we have all spotted. It’ll be useful for information gathering for various Bird Watching groups. ### 4/5 — Good way to journal animals *2019-02-17* Able to keep a list of birds and animals I have come across. Would be most excellent to have accompanying photos in app. ### 4/5 — Would be useful to be able to share a trip *2018-05-17, version 5.1.59* I love this app after a few days use. I would love to be able to share Entries with another user of the app... If you’re out with a friend you could record on one phone and then share with the friend later. ### 4/5 — Great Journal *2017-10-06, version 5.1.31* Very good journal that is easy to use. Like the cross-platform capability. Hope the authors bring out a version for iOS that will show the pics upload via the desktop version. ### 4/5 — Great Bird Tracker *2017-05-28* Great way to keep track of the birds I see in my backyard. I'm not very good at identifying birds, so I do rely on other apps for identifying, but this was the easiest for keeping track of my sightings. ### 5/5 — Great App! *2016-10-28, version 5.0.1847* This is a brilliant app, I use it all the time and it gets better each update. Great! ### 5/5 — Great app in the field *2016-10-27* Bird Journal has been my database of choice for seven years. I started using the Bird Journal App two years ago and have never regretted it, due to the seamless integration and synchronisation with the desktop version. Since upgrading my hardware to an iPhone [previously iPod Touch], due to the GPS funtionality, it records, and I see all my sightings on a map. ### 5/5 — Keeps getting better *2016-10-26, version 5.0.1842* Have been using this on desktop & mobile devices for years & each update brings great new features. Would recommend the premium package, well worth the money for the keen birder. Does all I want, keep it up guys! ### 5/5 — Got on with it fine. *2016-10-23, version 5.0.1760* Nice slick app, up to date. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Big Countries Crash App *2024-05-11* Any time I go for Brazil or USA it always crashes ### 1/5 — Used to be a slick app but no longer supported *2023-06-02* I used to love this app but it no longer runs reliably on iOS for several years with zero support. Taxonomic updates takes years as well, but I guess that doesn’t matter cause you cannot use this part of the program. Save yourself a yearly $40 subscription for nothing. ### 1/5 — Poor design *2020-08-22, version 5.1.115* Unable to auto-populate location or weather which even the most basic of free general journaling apps are providing. Seriously! You are marketing your app for nature observations! Totally avoid. ### 1/5 — Really Basic Inadequate Functionality *2020-03-19, version 5.1.115* You can’t even enter a geo location for an observation! A wildlife recording app where no longitude/latitude is a complete joke. Weather is nothing more than a free text notes field. Can’t add photos, no map. Very very basic and useless if you actually want to record useful details beyond species (with a few free text fields associated). Not really a wildlife app, bit of a waste of time. Also, you can only record species that are included in validation lists. So forget insects, amphibians in most of the world, etc. Also, orientation of some forms in iPad does not change to reflect the orientation of the device. MS Excel is far more powerful. Frustrating thing is it would be trivial development work to turn it into something useful. ### 1/5 — U can’t sign in *2019-11-23* I can’t even sign in ### 1/5 — Instant delete and review *2019-03-29* I will instantly delete an app and give it 1 star if it’s required I sign in or create an account before I can use the app. Should be zero star. ### 1/5 — Rip off *2018-12-28, version 5.1.68* Just upgraded to premium, and none of the promised additional features are available on the app! The app is exactly the same, just my pocket is lighter! ### 2/5 — Works well until it loses your data *2017-10-31* This was the best of several apps I downloaded for keeping a birding life list. However, just when I was getting comfortable, I had to replace my phone, and when I restored my apps from my backup, this is the only app that wouldn’t reload. All my bird list was lost...nearly 300 species with sighting dates. So sad! Not sure if I should even start again, or find another service. ### 2/5 — Buggy and unclear *2015-01-08, version 4.1* Tried this app after seeing a mini review elsewhere. Not that impressed it's very buggy, and isn't clear on what everything does. I suspect it's made more for people who know what everything means from the desktop app. ### 2/5 — Geoff Poulton *2014-12-11, version 4.0* I used ver3 on my laptop for many years then updated to ver 4 on laptop and on to I.pad. Yes the two now sync but many of the features on ver3 are only available on ver4 at an annual premium. Also bird list is too long for the average British birder. Gone back to ver3 for my main records which was plenty good enough for me. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Amazing *2024-01-20* It is a good app ### 5/5 — Awesome but... *2020-02-08* Love it but I wish I could attach photos on the app. I can on the web based version on the computer, but it sound be most helpful to do it live in the field. ### 5/5 — Very intuitive *2019-01-07, version 5.1.68* It’s great!! Very simple to use And the support from the Bird Journal team was excellent when I sent a question . I imagine the premium would be very interesting if you had a lot of data or imported your prior records. ### 5/5 — Bringing order to my bird list *2017-07-12, version 5.0.1862* This was an app I didn't know I needed - until I started using it to record observations in the field. Now I am a convert, and have even started entering all my old bird lists formerly kept in notebooks and scraps of paper. Very easy to use - and great to have the list automatically synchronised between iPhone iPad and mac. Even the "free" version is very functional. ### 5/5 — Best Yet *2017-06-01* I've tried several apps for recording bird sightings, but this is by far the best I've tried. Easy to use, and organized in a way that is intuitive for someone who just wants to keep a catalog of birds they have seen. ### 5/5 — Easy to use - good support *2017-04-02, version 5.0.1862* After having used another app for logging I have recently moved to this one and find it far easier and intuitive. Logging is straightforward and looking at previous lists is simple. In addition when I had a query it was answered quickly with another follow up email later to check if all was still ok. Fully recommended. ### 5/5 — Take it with me everywhere *2017-01-26, version 5.0.1862* This very effective app is a boon for birdwatching recordings. It stays with me and I record sightings where ever I might be. Ideal for reviewing both species, count and locations. Real time recordings are helpful too, but can be turned off so you can record after the sighting but record the time. ### 5/5 — Bird Journal *2017-01-23, version 5.0.1862* A wonderful app, particularly good for the field. Allows notes on each particular sighting, frequency of views and whether a bird has been seen or heard. Comprehensive list of species and easy to use. ### 5/5 — Feedback *2016-11-14, version 5.0.1847* Just started using this app. Really like it. Simple and well thought out. JR ### 5/5 — Peter newton *2016-10-28, version 5.0.1847* This programmes just totally blows me.... It ceases to amaze me..Having using used an alternative programme from day dot, i ran the two together , when Bird Journal was in it's infancy . As time has progressed , i have totally abandoned the original programme , and cannot express how fantastic Bird Journal has 'ticked ' every box i require for a journal , and exceeding expectation . I have to date, entered , almost 8000 entries starting from 1967 , and still adding. .. It has conjured up new updates which are beyond my requirements for what i thought was an un beatable programme.. I am by know means a computer wizard , but this programme is idiot proof , and i can only urge if you are considering a birding listing programme , or indeed any wildlife listing ( again , multiple listing of other wildlife is a doddle , even making your own ) go no further.Bird Journal is your priority. Peter Newton . clacton-On-sea .Essex --- *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 2026-09-08.*