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eBird

eBird

Cornell Lab of Ornithology

803 ratings
358 reviews
#141 in free Reference
🌟 Lifestyle
🔍 Reference
Free

Details

  • Released
  • Updated
  • June 15, 2015
  • August 25, 2026

Features

Background Location Access

Developer

Cornell University
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📉no. 141
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About

Easily record bird sightings in the field and contribute to a global database for scientific research and conservation. This app offers offline functionality, customized checklists, and GPS-enabled location plotting.

✓Record bird observations globally
✓Global taxonomy and local common names
✓Location and time-based checklists
✓Rare species flagging
✓Offline functionality
✓GPS location plotting
✓Trip and day list tracking
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What users say

Summarized from real user reviews of eBird. Based on 803 reviews and a 3.8/5 average, it highlights the 5 positives and 5 negatives reviewers mention most about this Reference app.

Positive things

  • 🚀Excellent for citizen science
  • 🔍Helpful for finding birds at hotspots
  • 📚Useful for tracking life lists
  • 👍Easy to use and submit checklists
  • 🤝Integrates well with Merlin Bird ID

Negative things

  • 🐛Frequent crashes and bugs
  • 🔋High battery consumption
  • 📍Issues with location tracking and mapping
  • 🤔Unintuitive user interface
  • 🔒Privacy concerns with location data
See all reviews

What's New in eBird

3.7.0

August 25, 2026

This build adds the ability to upload sound recordings to your eBird checklists in eBird Mobile. Step 1: Go to the eBird app and open a checklist Step 2: Share an audio recording from another app From Merlin: Go to Sound ID and tap the share icon when viewing a recording, then choose eBird from the list of apps. From Files or any other app: Open any audio file, tap the share icon, and choose eBird from the list of apps. Step 3: Follow the steps in eBird to match the recording to a species, trim the beginning and end, and add metadata before you submit.

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Charts

Top Free

📉 141-11

Reference

This app dropped -11 positions in Reference chart.

Last updated on September 18, 2026.

User reviews

Most RecentHighest RatedLowest Rated

Haven’t been able to access my account for days.

No way to email for help that I can find on their site and I can submit any reports because I keep getting a connection error
K-s0K-s0

Glitchy and unreliable

The apps keeps trying to auto update even when you have zero service and when it’s trying to update you can’t make any lists, keeps pestering you to update packs and when I finally did the app glitched out and going back in I lost 100+ unsubmitted lists (didn’t have service), they just disappeared, what a joke of an app, extremely disappointing (or maybe this is expected given how broken the Merlin app is as well)
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kjgshdyggbkjgshdyggb

Faulty app doesn’t install fully

Tried to install this but fails to progress/allow installation of bird packs. It doesn’t list any.
Tried reporting to the developer and got no response.
I’d give this a hard pass.
PeskiePeskie

Does not work

The app doesn’t allow me past the download packs screen, so unfortunately, I can’t even use the app at all.
SayruhVeeeSayruhVeee

Interesting app

Separate app from Merlin which I have been using for years. Will see how this plays. Always interested in being a citizen scientist observer of nature!
PeaceOnEarthAndGoodwillPeaceOnEarthAndGoodwill
See 353 more reviews

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User experience

🐞

Reported Bugs

5 issues

App crashes when trying to start a new checklist

Bug

Inability to log in or access account

Bug

Inconsistent behavior with bird pack downloads

Bug

Checklist data not syncing across devices

Bug

Explore feature not working as expected

Bug
✨

Requested Features

5 requests

Add ability to upload photos and audio directly in the app

Feature

Implement alphabetical sorting for checklists

Feature

Improve syncing between app and website

Feature

Add more advanced filtering and search options

Feature

Provide offline access to bird information

Feature

FAQ

What does eBird do?

eBird Mobile allows you to easily record bird sightings while you are out in the field. It then seamlessly links these observations to the eBird global online database, which is used by birders worldwide for scientific research, education, and conservation.

What are the key features of eBird?

Key features include recording bird observations from anywhere globally, using a full global taxonomy with local common names, receiving customized checklists based on your location and time of year, and flagging rare species. It also offers offline functionality, GPS plotting, and trip/day list tracking.

Is eBird free to use?

Yes, eBird Mobile is a free resource. There are no costs associated with downloading or using the app, and it does not have in-app purchases or advertisements.

What devices is eBird compatible with?

The app supports iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch devices. It is also translated into multiple languages including German, Mandarin, French, Spanish, Portuguese (Brazil), Turkish, and Dutch.

How can I use eBird for birding trips?

eBird's "Record as you go" functionality allows for incremental list keeping and counting while birding. The trip and day list feature makes it simple to track your species list for a particular outing, ensuring accurate records for your birding adventures.