# Birdwatcher's Diary

> Digital field companion for birders to log, track, and share bird sightings. (iPhone/iPad app by Stevens Creek Software LLC.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/birdwatchers-diary/id372848006 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Stevens Creek Software LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/283449658)
- Category: Lifestyle, Productivity
- Price: $12.99
- Rating: 3.80/5 from 5 App Store ratings · 53 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 9.0 · 45 MB
- Languages: English
- Released: 2010-06-04
- Data updated: 2026-06-10
- Monetization: paid
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/birdwatchers-diary/id372848006/reviews.md

## What is Birdwatcher's Diary?

Birdwatcher's Diary™ is the perfect field companion for birders in any part of the world! In seconds you can record the birds you see or hear with time and exact location automatically recorded, and add additional field notes. From the field you can upload your sightings, complete with a map showing the location of each sighting, to eBird, Facebook, Twitter, a birding listserv, Dropbox, or email it to yourself or others. Birdwatcher's Diary is designed to be useful for your "big day" efforts, Christmas Bird Counts, and for your everyday birding outings alike. Fast and easy to use yet packed with advanced features, Birdwatcher's Diary will enrich your birding experience. 

SAMPLE USER COMMENTS:

"I use this awesome iPhone app nearly every day and upload my sightings to eBird." – Fred Crotte

"I find it basically effortless to use in the field and love it. It is also great to directly send a report to your local listserv from the app, which allows for your comments, list, and a link to the Google map. Very cool." – John A.

"BWD is the most powerful listing app I've used. The filtering capabilities seem especially well-suited to bird surveys and big days." – The Birders Library

"We did a Big Day –I used the app to keep track through 5 different locations –it worked great right through uploading to eBird. Love it!"– Lois S.

"BWD had been indispensable while scouting for our upcoming Birdathon. I'll use it during the event and then provide a map to our sponsors and donors to show them our route with each species' location seen. They love that!" – Laurie F.

"I find Birdwatcher’s Diary easy to use and frankly fun. You will enjoy using this app and seeing not only your lists, but also the sightings maps." – Nancy J.

The staff of SCS are longtime birders active in bird conservation advocacy. We support bird conservation, education and research organizations.

KEY FEATURES:
• One tap records a species with exact location & time. Further taps increase the count. Built-in calculator for large increments
• Intelliscroll™ switches from 1- to 2- and 3-letter alphabet tabs for superfast scrolling
• Conventional search by first name, last name, Latin name, or bird-banding code
• Upload your sightings to eBird directly from the app
• Can mark sightings as "heard only"
• Built-in, user-configurable phrase list – tap, don’t type, your notes
• Quickly switch between viewing all birds, sighted only, or not seen yet
• Save and recall daily sightings directly on the iOS device, as well as in the "cloud" with Dropbox™
• Create life lists or filter by criteria: country, state, county, location, date and more
• Import your existing eBird sightings
• View sightings map on the device, or upload the information and create your own custom Google Map to view from a desktop
• Preconfigured with U.S., U.K., and Mexican bird lists. Many country and 50 state lists available for easy download; others on request
• Lists include standard English and scientific names as well as local names (Spanish, French, etc.) as appropriate
• Easily create your own custom lists like target species for your birdathon, county CBC list, etc.
• By installing (or simply entering) new lists, software can be used for sightings of anything - butterflies, reptiles, mammals, etc.
• Built-in tool for updating checklists and archives of past sightings for renames, splits, and lumps
• Include your own bird photos!
• Full support for Bluetooth keyboards

View a video demo, screen shots, user manual, additional checklists available, and more at www.stevenscreek.com/birdwatchersdiary.htm

## Key features

- One-tap sighting recording with location and time
- Automatic count incrementing with calculator
- Intelliscroll™ for fast bird list navigation
- Direct upload to eBird
- Mark sightings as 'heard only'
- Save and recall daily sightings
- Create life lists and filter by criteria

## Recent user reviews (10 of 53)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/birdwatchers-diary/id372848006/reviews.md

### 1/5 — No Longer Works

*2025-04-14*

There are so much better apps for Bird listing. This app will no longer upload to eBird.  Have gotten no support. This app was last updated 3+ years ago! When people spend money on something they should keep it up to date!!! Wish they would take it down from the Apple App Store.

### 3/5 — Update

*2023-06-13*

This app is okay my problem is they need to update. When you look at the number of species seen by state they are way off NM shows 527. Just looked in eBird and the actual number is 558.  Their are better apps for Birding but when people spend money on something they should keep it up to date.

### 5/5 — Great addition to any birdwatcher's toolkit

*2022-01-25, version 8.3*

Very happy to see this great app is available again and working well😊

I've been using this app for many years now and have decided that I no longer need to take pen, paper and a GPS with me when I go birdwatching. Species encountered can be located with a couple of taps, recorded with another tap, notes about the encounter recorded with another couple of taps via the user-configurable phrase list. Downloading and installing the Australian list was simple. I have since downloaded the New Zealand list and used it when I was over there just recently. The ability to record multiple sightings of the same species has proved invaluable for the monitoring I do of Hooded Plovers during the breeding season. The ability to archive data locally and to DropBox is great, as is the ability to configure the format of the output (eg. CSV or TXT format, which fields to include/exclude). Highly recommended and well worth the money. Neil Shelley Victoria, Australia

### 4/5 — Works Great

*2021-07-30, version 8.2*

Have had this app for several years and it does a great job of recording sightings. Like that you can record heard only birds. Another nice feature is you can upload to a listserv, Facebook or Twitter. You can tailor your locations to exact locations which is really convenient for future Birding trips.

### 5/5 — Parfait ou presque

*2020-09-02, version 8.2*

Je possède et utilise énormément cette application depuis 2012, au début sur un IPod touch et ensuite sur 2 IPhone (5 et maintenant 11pro). Je n’ai malheureusement pas testé sur d’autre plateforme.
Un peu difficile à maîtriser au début car pas très intuitif.  Une fois cette étape passée, l’application devient facile à utiliser. Je vous recommande fortement de vous accorder ce temps d’apprentissage et de ne pas juger négativement trop vite l’application. Vous en serez reconnaissant par la suite.
Vous pouvez créer vos propres listes et les importer aisément dans Birdwatcher. Par exemple, j’ai utilisé le champ « Local name » pour inscrire le nom français et le champ « Note » pour le statut et l’abondance des espèces. Ce qui est très pratique car ensuite il est possible d’afficher 2 des 3 noms (anglais (common name), français, scientifique). Vous comprendrez que selon le lieu et les gens avec qui vous vous trouvez cela simplifie la communication. Je me crée aussi des listes particulières pour les voyages à l’extérieur de ma région et autres pays, ce qui permet d’avoir en tout temps des listes plus courtes. Pas nécessaire de tout saisir, récupérer les listes sur internet, les clubs d’ornithologie locaux en possèdent ainsi que les associations telle que l’AOU.
Il est aussi possible de créer votre propre liste de phrases courtes qui peuvent être ajoutées en un simple click dans le champ note de l’observation. Très utile pour les notes qui reviennent fréquemment en évitant les erreurs de saisie et la complexité d’utilisation du clavier sur le téléphone.
Je sauvegarde régulièrement sur le terrain les observations quotidiennes localement et sur Dropbox afin de ne rien perdre. Malheureusement, il faut exécuter les deux sauvegardes en deux opérations et, en plus un message de confirmation apparaît chaque fois lors de la sauvegarde locale ce qui est un peu irritant. 
Il est facile d’exporter le fichier produit et ensuite de l’importer dans Excel pour ajouter ces observations à votre carnet personnel.
J’utilise très peu l’application pour fusionner les listes et les observations, je préfère grandement Excel pour ce genre d’opération. Par contre, sur le terrain, cette option est parfois utile pour rechercher une observation réalisée lors d'excursion antérieure.
Le guide utilisateur sur le site web du fabricant n’est pas très précis. Il est difficile d’y repérer rapidement l'information que l’on souhaite obtenir.  Le guide se résume à une seule longue page sans index ni hyperliens.  Je vous recommande de la lire une fois ou deux pour bien comprendre le fonctionnement de l’application et y repérer les informations utiles à la configuration et personnalisation de l’application.
Birdwatcher nécessite un rajeunissement et des améliorations mineures seraient souhaitables tant au niveau du fonctionnement que l’ajout de champs aux listes d’oiseaux et d’observations.
Finalement, malgré les quelques irritants et le vieillissement, l’application fonctionne très bien et mérite grandement de prendre le temps requis à son apprentissage.

### 5/5 — Very good - stands out of the crowd

*2019-01-09, version 8.2*

Although a little bit cumbersome the first time you try it, after getting the hang of it this proves to be a rather resourceful, feature-rich and inventive app, that puts the focus of the activity in looking for birds itself rather than “playing” with an app while birding. It certainly stands out of the now crowded niche that is apps for recording birds sightings. It offers personalized tags, a very interesting and innovative scroll system to get quickly to a bird a long list, a visualxhearing sight differentiation feature and several options of downloadable lists in various languages that can be personalized both in terms of adding/deleting entries and the way it shows the lists (scientific/ English/ local language name)

### 5/5 — Useful in many ways.

*2017-12-11*

have used Birdwatcher’s diary for several years in the USA, Mexico, and South America.  It is a wonderful program that greatly enhances the enjoyment of birding.  It is easy to use in the field and at home in collating data.  It provides a useful format for historical records, whether for personal use or for uploading to eBird.  The Stevens Creek Software team is highly responsive to inquiries and in providing app updates when necessary.

### 5/5 — The Best Bird Listing Program for iOS!

*2015-08-26*

I own several bird listing software Apps for iOS, but Birdwatcher's Diary remains my top choice (I don't even bother with the other programs any more).  I rely on it for recording observations nearly every day, and submitting them to eBird.

I really like the fact that Birdwatcher's Diary grabs very exact Lat/Long coordinates for each species sighting (I'm using a Bluetooth GPS linked to my iPod).  This is probably my favorite feature; after a birding trip, it's great to be able to instantly bring up a map of the area showing exactly where I've seen each bird!

I also like the ability to easily switch Master Checklists for out-of-state trips, and the ability to customize my Checklists to include eBird "Spuhs" (i.e. "Empidonax sp.", etc.).

The Birdwatcher's Diary interface allows for quick entry and works great.  Because the program is so flexible and complex, it takes a bit more study to fully master than some of the other Apps out there.  However, nothing else can match it's feature set, which makes the effort well worthwhile.  Plus, the support from Stevens Creek is top notch - they've consistently improved the eBird upload interface (which is vital to me) and other features of the program.

After nearly three years of daily use, Birdwatcher's Diary continues to be the most utilized App on my iPod.  I can't image going birding without it!

### 5/5 — Great App for Data Collectors & Listers

*2015-06-16*

I have tried a number of birding apps (including the new eBird app) and this is by far the best.  I love the flexibility that it allows.  I have total control over my data.  I can create my own locations and record unique lat/long down to 100 foot intervals and export it to multiple formats, including eBird.  A few hiccups in eBird uploads when eBird makes changes, but a big thanks to the developers for quickly adapting to these changes!

### 2/5 — NOT USER FRIENDLY, FRUSTRATING

*2015-05-11, version 7.0.4*

This app crams a lot of features into a non-intuitive and convoluted interface - and for a steep price. It's stunning how this app forces the user to conform to its needs, rather then addressing yours. I'm in my early 40's, a fast learner with technology, and have a background in biology / ornithology. This app defeated me, even after  time investment.  

As an example, even searching for a bird is difficult - the user cannot just type the common name (or any part of it), as in the Sibley guide. Instead, you must first choose a type of search, then if searching by common name, type either "first" or "last" name. It turns out that the entire phrase: "Pygmy-owl" is a last name: who knew? If you search for "owl" - "pygmy-owl" won't appear in the results, only owls with non-hyphenated names. Any search that doesn't hyphenate (or not hyphenate) exactly right leads to failure. If you forget that "northern" is part of the name for northern pygmy-owl - or try to type "pygmy" as the "first name"- it will loudly QUACK!! to point out your error. The app punishes you if you don't conform to the its rigid requirements (after all those QUACK noises, I wanted to throw my iPhone into the nearest creek)! 

Why not one simple search box, where you enter any part of the name, banding code etc, and let the user pick from search results??? 

And the menus for saving, retrieving or uploading lists are worse. The app presents a Rube Goldberg-ian array of options that can't be understood without exhaustive study of a manual. Try to save a bird list, assign it a location, or start a new list and you'll be stymied, or hounded by the app's annoying error quacks because you haven't met its demands (but without providing a straightforward solution). 

I've already lost one bird list completely, still can't change locations or dates, and accidentally deleted Savannah Sparrow from the available options for all my lists.  

If you truly want an app that feels like 1990s technology, it would be easier to learn MSDOS, figure out how to run it on your smart phone - then use it to write your own bird list app. For those who miss DOS commands, this app's demand for rigid syntax, it's use of non-intuitive jargon, and its multi step operations to accomplish seemingly simple tasks will fill you with nostalgia. 

I really tried. But if the developers feel like I should have studied the manual further, I disagree. I'm not someone who gives up easily, but the whole point of apps -  like iPhones - is to make things relatively easy for the user to learn.  

I feel bad about leaving a negative review.I truly wish the developers the best - and I share their love of birds. But I feel I must warn people about this app.

## Frequently asked questions about Birdwatcher's Diary

### What does Birdwatcher's Diary do?

Birdwatcher's Diary is a mobile application designed to be a field companion for birdwatchers. It allows users to quickly record bird sightings, automatically capturing the time and exact location. Users can also add field notes, track counts, and export their data to various platforms.

### What are the key features of Birdwatcher's Diary?

Key features include one-tap recording of species with automatic location and time, an Intelliscroll™ for fast list navigation, direct upload capabilities to eBird, the option to mark sightings as 'heard only', and the ability to save and recall daily sightings. It also supports creating life lists and filtering sightings by various criteria.

### How much does Birdwatcher's Diary cost?

Based on the provided information, Birdwatcher's Diary is a paid application. There are no mentions of in-app purchases or advertisements, suggesting a one-time purchase model.

### What kind of bird lists are included?

The app comes preconfigured with bird lists for the U.S., U.K., and Mexico. Additional country and 50 state lists are available for easy download, with options for other lists upon request. These lists include standard English and scientific names.

### How can I use Birdwatcher's Diary for events like 'Big Day'?

Birdwatcher's Diary is well-suited for events like 'Big Day' efforts and Christmas Bird Counts. Its fast recording and tracking features, combined with the ability to upload sightings to eBird and create maps showing the location of each sighting, make it an invaluable tool for documenting and sharing your birding achievements.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 8.3 — 2022-01-20

Updated for compatibility with iPhone displays lacking a home button. Operation manual is now included in the app.

### 8.2 — 2018-02-21

Updated for compatibility with changes to the eBird website; direct upload to eBird restored.

### 8.1 — 2018-01-31

The "date chooser" on the Sighting screen and on the Archive->Save screen was not working at all; now fixed.

### 8.0.5 — 2018-01-13

o Updated for iPhoneX
o Adding a new location now immediately shows up on the list of locations, rather than requiring closing that list and then opening it again

### 8.0.1 — 2017-12-12

Fixed a bug that could crash when a life list was generated

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All apps by Stevens Creek Software LLC: https://appshunter.io/developer/283449658

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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 2026-06-10.*