# Birds of Western Palearctic — Handbook of Bird ID

> Interactive bird identification handbook for Europe and Western Palearctic. (iPhone/iPad app by mydigitalearth.com.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/birds-of-western-palearctic/id1062514393 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [mydigitalearth.com](https://appshunter.io/developer/332205034)
- Category: Reference, Books
- Price: $28.99
- Rating: 1.00/5 from 1 App Store ratings · 4 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 13.0 · 360 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2015-12-07
- Data updated: 2026-08-24
- Monetization: paid
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/birds-of-western-palearctic/id1062514393/reviews.md

## What is Birds of Western Palearctic?

This app is an interactive companion to the book "The Handbook of Bird Identification for Europe and the Western Palearctic" – the comprehensive book for birdwatchers interested in the region. It covers ALL the regions found in the book.
This app has specific features that will enhance your birding experience. 

FEATURES:
Multiple hi-res images, distribution maps and detailed text descriptions for most of the over 600 bird species included.
These images can be expanded to fill the entire width of the screen in portrait and landscape.
Audible calls for many of the species.
A “Smart Search” to narrow down birds by selecting a variety of options from Bird Type to Bird Diet and Bill Shape.
 “Bird Compare” that allows you to compare two birds on the same screen.
A personal bird list* that stores your bird sightings saved to the device that can then be exported through email.
View the Bird Index by Common or Scientific bird names either alphabetically or taxonomically.

*Uninstalling the program will result in the loss of your list, it is recommended that you keep your own master list separate from the program.

## Key features

- High-res images and distribution maps
- Detailed species descriptions
- Audible bird calls
- Smart search by characteristics
- Side-by-side bird comparison
- Personal bird sighting list
- Exportable sighting data

## Recent user reviews (4 of 4)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/birds-of-western-palearctic/id1062514393/reviews.md

### 2/5 — Location functionality doesn’t work

*2019-02-23*

I’ve been using the app for a couple of weeks. Searching for and viewing the birds is fine but I can’t set the location when I’m recoding a sighting. Whenever I go near locations the app closes. I’ve sent an email to the support team and have t had a reply. Being a software developer who spends most of my week dealing with live issues and getting back to customers within a few hours, I find this very frustrating!

### 2/5 — Dont buy this

*2019-02-03, version 1.1*

Just downloaded the app for $40. I did it to prepare for a trip to Europe and learn the calls. I expected something equivalent to the Sibley or Peterson birds for North America.

Most of the birds don’t have the calls in this application... some as common as the common grackle. A lot of the birds also don’t have a distribution map, which leaves outside birders to guess where to find them.

I think this expensive application was rushed and is incomplete.

Please refrain from spending $40 for this my friends birders...

Francois Ouellet Canada

### 3/5 — Birds of Europe

*2018-04-09, version 1.1*

I bought this guide app on the strength of the Sibley one and was disappointed due to insufficient quality control of the content: Typographical errors, missing range maps when the text refers to them, and misplaced species illustrations.

There is unrealized potential in the app. The range feature could be enabled by country, and more audio of bird songs and calls added.

Also, Birds of Europe by Mullarney, Svensson, Zetterström and Grant would have been a better choice for content.

### 4/5 — Excellent - If you what you are looking for

*2017-01-21, version 1.1*

This is a very, very comprehensive bird cataloguer/identifier for all of Europe. 

It is probably rightly indispensable for experienced birders because it has so much solid and detailed information. 

It is not good for relative newcomers to the pass-time:  The identification tool requires one to know first what species or family of birds one is looking for to be able to find anything close. 

Understand this well before you buy. 

A much more useful identification tool would allow one to start with size, colours, beak type, habitat. Then the search engine would list all the families/species that meet the criteria and let one select the bird closest to what one saw. 

So for someone alone and learning, like me, this is a waste of over $40.00 (after taxes).

## Frequently asked questions about Birds of Western Palearctic

### What is the price of Birds of Western Palearctic?

Birds of Western Palearctic is a paid app, priced at $28.99. This one-time purchase grants access to all its features.

### Does Birds of Western Palearctic have ads?

No, Birds of Western Palearctic does not contain advertisements. It is a premium reference application.

### What devices is Birds of Western Palearctic compatible with?

Birds of Western Palearctic is compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod. It is designed for iOS devices.

### How often is Birds of Western Palearctic updated?

The latest version of Birds of Western Palearctic was released on June 20, 2025. Updates are provided to enhance functionality and content.

### What is the age rating for Birds of Western Palearctic?

Birds of Western Palearctic has an age rating of 4+. This indicates it is suitable for users aged four and above.

### Can I save my bird sightings in Birds of Western Palearctic?

Yes, Birds of Western Palearctic allows you to create a personal bird list to store your sightings. These can be exported via email, but note that uninstalling the app will result in data loss.

### What kind of search functionality does Birds of Western Palearctic offer?

Birds of Western Palearctic features a 'Smart Search' that enables users to narrow down bird identification by selecting criteria such as Bird Type, Bird Diet, and Bill Shape.

### How does the 'Bird Compare' feature work in Birds of Western Palearctic?

The 'Bird Compare' feature in Birds of Western Palearctic allows you to view and compare two different bird species side-by-side on the same screen, facilitating identification.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 1.3.0 — 2026-05-27

Fixed some bugs.
Added My Location to select a specific countries birds.

### 1.2.2 — 2025-06-20

Updated app to latest iOS guidelines.

### 1.2.1 — 2022-05-04

Updated app to latest iOS specifications.

### 1.2 — 2019-02-26

Made app compatible with the latest iOS and devices.
Fixed a few bugs.

### 1.1 — 2016-08-01

Fixed a bug that caused some species to be missing from the app.
Added distribution map legend to help.

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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 2026-08-24.*