# Costa Rica Birds — user reviews > 47 indexed App Store user reviews of Costa Rica Birds by Patrick ODonnell, rated 3.90/5 from 25 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/costa-rica-birds/id568719936/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/costa-rica-birds/id568719936.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 15 · 4★ 3 · 3★ 0 · 2★ 4 · 1★ 3 ## Newest reviews (12 of 47) ### 2/5 — Could be something but it is what it is. *2023-02-15, version 6.9.31* You get exactly what you expect from people from Panama creating a book for another country. The range maps are god awful. They could of spent a little time im trying to make them even a little accurate. How about actually adding a rare color to the maps instead of telling us bare faced ibis residents. So many of these inaccuracies. For people that boast on their photos. You would think there would be more. Or actually good Ones. So many talented photographers could of been used in submissions. The audio is basically the worst. No consistency what so ever. If you are just an average birder or non birder. This online book will barely get you by. They could of done so much more with this. Or spent time creating it. Also never updates species. Lots of wrong names and merges that will likely never get changed. I give it 2 stars cause it’s adaquate as a list for the country. It pretty much ends there ### 4/5 — Good and getting better *2021-05-17, version 6.5.0* Have had this app for some time and don't agree with the negative comments! It has been updated several times with additional species and pics. And it has a feature that allows you to record the song or take a pic or choose from your photo library and submit it to get help in identifying a bird you have seen or heard. And response is usually pretty quick. So for identifying birds in Costa Rica it is a great app. ### 4/5 — Nice app *2021-02-03, version 6.4.0* Bug fixed; I’m a happy camper. Looking forward to further enhancements. ### 2/5 — Update? *2019-12-28, version 4.45* I just re-downloaded this app after updating my iphone to 13.3. It now shows 1/3 screen pictures and text. It used to work perfectly. I don’t know if it is their new version, or if the app is not compatable with ios 13.3. ### 2/5 — Birds of Costa Rica *2019-10-13, version 4.38* I recently purchased but with the Apple iSO 13.1.2 update the app doesn’t seem like it is supported. The app was not able to search species and after deleting and reinstalling the app is not launching /opening. Trying to figure out what is happening and how to contact the developer but until resolved be aware it may not interface currently with this version of apple ### 4/5 — Back button for Similar Species *2016-06-11, version 4.13.0* It's a good app with a good number of photos and songs. When I click similar species it doesn't give me a back button to go back to where I was. You have to reset and go back to the bird which I find kind of annoying. ### 4/5 — Great, but needs updating *2016-03-03, version 4.6* I purchased this app for my iPod Touch 3. I like it: It's easy to use and has excellent content. Only, not all birds have vocalisations. I can only hope it will be updated. This expressed, don't hesitate to get it in advance of birding in Costa Rica. ### 3/5 — Needs work *2016-02-24, version 4.6* Released too early. Lots of omissions. Same group that made Panama guide. Wait awhile before you buy. ### 5/5 — Excellent *2016-01-18, version 4.1.8* I have now been using for 2 months on my visit to Costa Rica. Since I was use to Ibird Pro took a little getting use too but now find it very easy and thorough. For me it has been an excellent acquisition and considering the price for a book an excellent value. Heartily recommend. ### 3/5 — Should be much more comprehensive at this price *2016-01-15, version 4.1.8* Information provided is minimal & not worth the price... ### 3/5 — Convenient but needs work *2015-12-28, version 4.0* Easier to use than a book-the search functions are good. But the list function will not display location option long enough to turn it on. Almost impossible to add notes and they don't display. Needs more flight photos. I wish all birding apps worked like Collins Europe. ### 2/5 — Definitely not worth the $10.00 *2015-11-10, version 4.0* Many pictures missing, no support for GPS in settings, the photo page does not support normal photo dimensions when adding your own. Helps with some identification and details but would expect a lot more from an app at this price. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Terrible! *2025-12-22, version 6.14.6* Don’t waste your money! Buggy, poorly made app. ### 1/5 — Unable to close page from email section! *2021-09-08, version 6.5.0* Unable to return to the main menu. It is stuck on the email section! ### 1/5 — not great *2018-02-11, version 4.25.0* I am not on expert birder, but know what I am doing. This app makes identification challenging, and impossible. The birds are listed alphabetically by their proper names so if you don't know that the quetzl is called the resplendent quetzl, there is no way to find the bird. I tried many times to filter by bird characteristics and not one time did it give me the relevant bird. The photos are no good either. I am EXTREMELY disapointed because my trip to Costa Rica is over and the app didn't help me once. ### 1/5 — Don't get it *2016-09-15, version 4.16.2* This app sucks, most of the photos are of poor quality, the info is sparse, the buttons to move between pages don't function properly, there is no way to compare birds beside each other. Save your money and don't buy this app. ### 1/5 — Costa Rica Birds Field Guide *2015-02-04, version 3.1* I feel we were ripped off paying a premium amount for an APP that is not at all useful or user friendly. Yes, the pictures are fine but unless you are already very familiar with the birds of CR, using this app for identification is frustration personified. The checklist feature is useless. Nowhere can you access or see a compilation of the birds in the checklist that you have seen. Checking the 'seen' button in the notes feature does not add the bird to your checklist. Also there is no way to edit the date and time of a sighting. The date and time recorded is fixed to the time you click the 'seen' button in the app. Yes you could make additional notes for the correct time and date but then why bother..... ### 1/5 — Disappointed *2013-02-26, version 1.3.5* Few and poor quality photos, poorly organized, many likely birds missing. This app is NOT worth the cost!!! Worst app I've ever purchased. ### 2/5 — Mixed *2026-02-27, version 6.36* Excellent information presented here. But the app is terrible to use with a really poor design. For example, if you haven’t displayed range before you search, you have to cancel the search, show the range and search again. Once you have found a bird you cannot move to the next bird in the search without returning first. Suggest the writers look at some of the best in class apps like the Sasol Birds of South Africa to see how you can make it what the quality of data needs. ### 2/5 — Two thumbs down *2024-12-07, version 6.14.6* Urgh. Not worth the space it takes up on my phone. Poorly organized and difficult to use. ### 2/5 — Oh man 🤦🏽‍♂️ *2024-12-01, version 6.14.6* This is not a well constructed app. Search does not even fully load and is therefore not useable. The set up is horrible for figuring out the identity of birds seen and is nearly impossible without the ability to filter birds. This is a $15 list of the birds of Costa Rica with minimal pictures and inconsistent quality of sounds. Spend your money on “The Birds of Costa Rica” field guide book and start exploring eBird! ### 2/5 — Semi useful app *2023-02-17, version 6.9.31* There are so many more things that need to be done to make it more user friendly and easier to find the bird you are looking for that I don’t think it’s worth the money. I am currently in Costa Rica and gave up using this app within a few days and downloaded the Merlin Bird app with the Costa Rica bird pack and this has been my go to app for bird iD in the field. To top it off the Merlin bird app is free, easier to use and can be used off line. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Excellent guide *2026-02-07, version 6.14.6* We’re heading back to Costa Rica and beginning to think about what to take with us. I will (again) use this app as field guide, supplement information to that provided by locals, and my trip journal. I like that it is easy to use and is unfussy. ### 5/5 — Great phone app *2025-10-10, version 6.14.6* I purchased this field guide for my trip to Costa Rica. Great asset in the field. Clear and concise. ### 5/5 — A top notch birding app! *2024-04-08, version 6.13.0* This Costa Rica app was one of the best we have ever used, having tried not only North American bird apps like iBird Pro and Sibleys, but also Collins for Europe and other apps. It was extremely easy to use, quickly recording species seen (or heard) and any extra notes. The range maps and natural history information were also very helpful, as was the ability to sort by common name, groups of birds, etc. One of the nicest features is having the ability to export a CSV file with the list of birds seen or even better, the Notes file which includes scientific names, notes, family, GPS coordinates etc. We brought along the paper field guide as well, but most days we were happy just to have our phones with the app and look at the book later. Highly recommended! ### 5/5 — Excellent App *2023-11-19, version 6.13.0* I was surprised to see low ratings for this app, then noticed most were 7-9 years old! It has been updated many times since it’s release and is now, late 2023 an excellent app for birding in Costa Rica. To be clear you will not find a serious birder in Costa Rica without this APP! ### 5/5 — kicked out *2022-11-03, version 6.9.31* I am following up on my review of Costa Rica birds app. I've used it for years. I was unhappy when my phone update caused the app to malfunction. The developer contacted me and has updated the app. It works perfectly. It's very simple to use. It is not an exhaustive source of information on each species but it's adequate to make an identification so that species can be studied later. Pictures and sounds are good. ### 5/5 — Invaluable app. *2022-02-28, version 6.7* Without this app I would’ve had no idea what I was looking at here in Costa Rica. And the very fact that you can listen to the calls gives you the ability to double confirm what you have seen. Or simply confirm what you have heard! This is a great app. Highly recommended ### 5/5 — Easy to use. *2020-05-01, version 5.4* This app is great, much easier than carrying a book and shuffling through the pages. There is a filter function that allows you to search for birds by characteristics like colors and size. Finding the birds like that is really easy without knowing their names. I also like the ability to mark them as seen and heard. Then you can go and filter by marked as seen and you get a list with the species that you have observed. Great work. ### 5/5 — So happy to have this handy app *2019-01-21, version 4.31.1* Love the photos, sounds and range maps. A very needed tool. ### 5/5 — Great app for all levels of birders *2018-12-03, version 4.31.1* A lot of people at Arenal Observatory Lodge in La Fortuna were using this app. Loved the fact they have photos, vocalizations and ranges attached to the bird description. Being able to email a photo of the bird to the developers is very handy for hard-to-identify species. Nice touch. ### 5/5 — Great App *2017-03-18, version 4.20.0* Several of us had this app on our iPhones on our recent trip to Costa Rica. It ended up being a very useful tool. --- *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 2026-09-09.*