# BirdGuides — First for Bird News

> Birdwatching app for news, sightings, submissions, and notifications. (iPhone/iPad app by Warners Group Publications PLC.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/birdguides/id1218786227 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Warners Group Publications PLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/586192010)
- Category: Lifestyle, Reference
- Price: Free
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 17.1 · 5 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2017-08-03
- Data updated: 2026-08-21
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/birdguides/id1218786227/reviews.md

## What is BirdGuides?

Whether you're the keenest of twitchers, a local birdwatcher or someone with a passing interest in what birds are being seen near you, the newly updated BirdGuides app gives you all the information you need – and plenty more besides.

Major new features include:
•	New and improved design – delivering sightings to you in sleek format, with reports now colour-coded by rarity and individual sighting details with added map view;
•	Enhanced BirdMap – view all sightings on an interactive full-screen map, either for the current day or any past date;
•	Quickly filter sightings by rarity level on both list and map view;
•	Sophisticated search function – you can now explore our entire sightings database, stretching back to November 2000, on a map as well as in list format;
•	A wider range of notification sound options are now available.

Using the BirdGuides app, you can:
•	View all sightings from today or any previous date in order to help you see great birds;
•	Submit your sightings quickly and accurately from the field with our submissions form – all sightings are proudly shared with BirdTrack;
•	Update and create Filters within the app to get notified about the species you want to see.

Each sighting can be expanded to give full location details and further information, such as time seen, number of birds, detailed directions and parking instructions. A single click will load the best route to the bird in your map provider. Birding has never been so easy!

## Key features

- Interactive BirdMap with sightings
- Filter sightings by rarity
- Sophisticated search of sightings database
- Submit bird sightings from the field
- Personalized species notifications
- Detailed sighting information and directions

## What do users think of BirdGuides?

Overall sentiment: neutral

**Pros**

- 🚀 Fast and functional
- 📊 Excellent information and directions
- 💻 Great app overall
- 🤝 Recommended for birders

**Cons**

- 🐛 Glitchy and unreliable
- 🔄 Frequent login issues
- 📍 Lacking location details
- 🗺️ Poor map functionality

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Notifications not working
- Sightings not updating properly
- Crashes and freezes after updates
- Subscription issues after updates

**Most requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Improved map with precise locations
- Ability to set alerts for specific counties
- Better sorting and filtering options

## Recent user reviews (10 of 51)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/birdguides/id1218786227/reviews.md

### 1/5 — Advertised functionality doesn’t work

*2026-06-21*

Sadly the app isn’t functioning as expected. 
Reports of sightings do not get logged and the filters for alerts just fails on every attempt at setting up. 
Happy to change the review if these get fixed but not holding out too much hope at this stage.

### 1/5 — What happened to location?

*2026-02-25, version 3.1.2*

Was really happy with this app but over the last few days, location data has disappeared. Not much point to it now. What happened?

### 3/5 — Loss of functionality

*2025-09-06*

Since the update the app has stopped showing the location details and the map no longer updates when zooming in despite using the refresh button (iPhone 15 iOS 18.6.2)

Can you please rectify as the app is useless otherwise.

### 2/5 — New update

*2025-07-19, version 3.0.2*

The new map isn’t as good.  The pins would show what bird species it refers to so it was quick and easy whereas now you have to click and sift through each one.  A quick task has now turned into a chore.

### 3/5 — Issues since update

*2025-07-18, version 3.0.2*

It's ok , but now won't refresh and not showing bird's that bird alert does in the same area like how it used to

### 2/5 — Needs attention urgently please

*2025-07-10, version 3.0.1*

I’m not interested in in what birds are about in Scotland…..how do I set up birds in my local area ?    Advice please.

### 5/5 — Decent update

*2025-07-07*

I updated to the new app today.  Bad news, it kept crashing.  I uninstalled and reinstalled it, and it now works as it should.  It is a decent update, if not quite as exciting as the publishers promised.

### 5/5 — Dark mode icon please

*2025-02-13, version 2.1.1*

Great app. Can we have a dark mode icon please?

### 5/5 — Great service

*2025-01-15, version 2.1.1*

Amazing degree of information

### 4/5 — Nice app but!

*2024-09-06*

This app works very nicely providing bird sitings. Unfortunately it has the habit of losing its internet connection and freezes. Only reinstalling the app solves the problem which is a bit tedious. Hope it can be sorted.

## Frequently asked questions about BirdGuides

### What does the BirdGuides app do?

The BirdGuides app provides bird news and sightings, allowing users to view observations from any date, submit their own sightings, and receive notifications for specific species. It features an interactive map and detailed information for each sighting.

### What are the key features of BirdGuides?

Key features include an enhanced BirdMap for viewing sightings, the ability to filter by rarity, a sophisticated search function for the sightings database, and a form for submitting your own observations. Users can also set up custom notifications for desired bird species.

### Is BirdGuides free to use?

Yes, the BirdGuides app is free to use. The provided information indicates no in-app purchases or advertisements, suggesting a completely free experience for users.

### What kind of information can I find for each bird sighting?

Each sighting can be expanded to provide full location details, the time it was seen, the number of birds observed, detailed directions to the location, and parking instructions. The app can also load the best route to the bird in your preferred map provider.

### Can I submit my own bird sightings through the app?

Yes, you can quickly and accurately submit your sightings directly from the field using the app's submission form. All submitted sightings are shared with BirdTrack, contributing to broader bird monitoring efforts.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 3.2 — 2026-04-22

We've added new placeholder images for mammals, dragonflies and butterflies, and made some behind-the-scenes changes.

### 3.1.2 — 2025-10-06

Thanks for all of your feedback on the refreshed BirdGuides app. In this version we've fixed a handful of bugs and made some other improvements to the app interface.

### 3.1.1 — 2025-07-26

Thanks for all of your feedback on the refreshed BirdGuides app. In this version we've introduced the option to use miles instead of kilometres and added a button to refresh the BirdMap. We've also fixed a handful of bugs and made some other improvements to the app interface.

### 3.1 — 2025-07-23

Thanks for all of your feedback on the refreshed BirdGuides app. In this version we've introduced the option to use miles instead of kilometres and added a button to refresh the BirdMap. We've also fixed a handful of bugs and made some other improvements to the app interface.

### 3.0.2 — 2025-07-14

Major new features include:
•	New and improved design – delivering sightings to you in sleek format, with reports now colour-coded by rarity and individual sighting details with added map view;
•	Enhanced BirdMap – view all sightings on an interactive full-screen map, either for the current day or any past date;
•	Quickly filter sightings by rarity level on both list and map view;
•	Sophisticated search function – you can now explore our entire sightings database, stretching back to November 2000, on a map as well as in list format;
•	A wider range of notification sound options are now available.

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## More apps by Warners Group Publications PLC

- [Family Tree Magazine.](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/family-tree-magazine/id452692339)
- [Land Rover Monthly](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/land-rover-monthly/id469391540)
- [Leisure Painter & The Artist](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/leisure-painter-and-the-artist/id492632101)
- [The Artist Magazine](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-artist-magazine/id492676619)
- [Practical Fishkeeping](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/practical-fishkeeping/id547923062)
- [Start Art Magazine](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/start-art-magazine/id564218893)

All apps by Warners Group Publications PLC: https://appshunter.io/developer/586192010

## Related topics

[bird guides](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/bird-guides) · [bird sightings](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/bird-sightings)

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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 2026-08-21.*