# Japanese Birds

> Japanese bird identification guide with photos, sounds, and search functions. (iPhone/iPad app by Enwit Inc..)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/japanese-birds/id342467754 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Enwit Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/342467759)
- Category: Reference, Lifestyle
- Price: $28.99
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 18.6 · 409 MB
- Languages: American English, Japanese
- Released: 2010-01-20
- Data updated: 2026-09-04
- Monetization: paid
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/japanese-birds/id342467754/reviews.md

## What is Japanese Birds?

This app provides information on 250 species of birds in Japan, complete with photographs, descriptions, and sounds. There are 364 sounds—including songs, calls, and drumming. Beautiful birdsong, passionate canzone, the melancholy melody of a love song, intense drumming, birdcall as daily communication—enjoy the diverse world of wild birds.

You can look up birds anytime, anywhere with this app installed on your iPhone/iPod touch. No more having to lug heavy guidebooks around.

When you encounter a bird, you can listen to its pleasing birdsong, then you can let this app work for you. You can browse by name alphabetically or by family, or search by common name, scientific name, or Japanese name.

Japanese name could be convenience when you talk to Japanese bird watcher. e.g. “Red-crowned Crane” is “Tan-cho” in Japanese name. It has also glossary and terminology in Japanese and English.

If you do not remember or cannot even guess at part of the bird's name, you can use the search function to search by color, size, habitat, or distribution. You can browse through the quickly returned search results, which are sorted by size. Color or habitat search conditions can be set as a filter as you wish.

To play a sound, simply tap on the sound play button or on the phonetic spelling text. Photographs, life descriptions, and phonetic spelling for voices help you to understand birds effortlessly.
In addition, you can let the link function work for you so you do not miss similar sounds.

You can make your own lists of favorite birds, by season, by site, or in any manner you like. Included are sample lists for Hokkaido(endemic to Hokkaido) and Okinawa(endemic to Okinawa).

The player function plays sounds from your own list or by family.

You can use it to simply appreciate your favorite sounds, or to train your ear using blind mode.

Text size for menus and descriptions can be set to small or large as you wish. This app is bilingual in Japanese and English, allowing you to enjoy international communication through wild birds.

The photographs are by Takuya Kanouchi, and the sound recordings and text are by Hideo Ueda. Between them, they have taken a massive number of photographs and recorded many, many sounds over several decades. Now this wealth of information is in your hands, and with this treasured library you can go out into the field of wild birds.

Some of the contents of this app were originally published as a book (see left picture). This app includes a glossary and terminology for parts of a bird taken from the book.

When you use this app to play sounds outdoors, please use headphones or turn the volume down if using a speaker. Your consideration in not disturbing other birdwatchers is appreciated.

******Update History*****
1.4.1
- Build for iOS 15
- Fixed bugs of display on some devices.

1.3.0
-Fixed corrupted layout in iOS7
-Fixed corrupted layout with using link from SmartBirding
-Revise stability of player with play list has large number of sounds.
-Fixed some bugs by improved memory management.
 
1.2.1
-Fixed wrong sort in alphabetic.
-Revise message about detecting of mute.
-Place name index has link to GoogleMap.

1.2.0
-Support screen size of iPhone 5 and iOS 6.
-This version is based on Check-list of Japanese Birds, 7th revised edition by The Ornithological Society of Japan
(Preference selects 6th edition or 7th.)
-Access to another species of same family in detail screen.
-Photos is positioned on horizontal scroll.
-Play by speaker mode over mute added. Default mode is not play by speaker if OS set to mute. In field play by speaker is sensitive to another bird watcher and wild birds.
-Link to Wikipedia
-Link to Smart Birding, movie app.
***************************

## Key features

- 250 Japanese bird species profiles
- 364 bird sounds (songs, calls, drumming)
- Search by name, color, size, habitat
- Bilingual (Japanese/English)
- Customizable favorite bird lists
- Glossary and terminology

## Chart rankings

- #98 in Top Paid · Reference (US App Store)

## Recent user reviews (10 of 41)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/japanese-birds/id342467754/reviews.md

### 5/5 — 今でも使えるのが助かる

*2026-04-27*

初期のリリースはかなり昔ですが、アップデート対応してくれるので助かります。

### 4/5 — A Helpful Guide

*2026-04-25, version 1.4.3*

I have just used this app for 3 weeks while touring in Japan and doing bird watching as I travelled (not my primary purpose). The app has some poor reviews. I think they are harsh. I found it a helpful tool alongside Merlin. There are no other apps for Japanese birds at present and whilst at times navigation felt a little less than intuitive - it works. More photos would be good - I assume it will get updated over time. I think there are some errors - I think the Dusky Thrush  is omitted but its photo appears as Neumanns Thrush. 

Whilst not yet perfect I found it a helpful companion.

### 4/5 — 外来種も掲載して欲しい

*2025-02-25*

愛用させて頂いております
出来ましたら、日本で良く見られる主な外来種も掲載して欲しいです

現状は、ガビチョウやハッカチョウなど、よく見かける鳥の掲載が無い状況です
もし特定外来生物に指定されているから排除されているのなら悲しい限りです
初心者にとっては、何の鳥かを知る第一歩になり得ます
その鳥の置かれた状況を学ぶキッカケとなります

### 3/5 — ガイドをクリックするとアプリが落ちる

*2024-03-14*

IOS17.4でガイドをクリックすると落ちます。
IOS16.7.6では問題ありません。
新しいIOSへの対応お願いします。

### 2/5 — 本当に「鳴声図鑑」になってしまった

*2022-05-25*

長い期間利用して、役に立っていましたが、最近鳥の解説文が消えてしまいました。確かに鳴声が聴けるアプリですけど、これじゃどうでしょうねぇ。

### 2/5 — 説明文が消えました

*2022-05-10*

iPhone版で鳴き声は聴けるのですが鳥の説明文が消えました。
iPadでは正常に動いています。

### 1/5 — 解説がでません

*2022-04-27*

鳴き声は認識できますが　鳥の解説が現れて来ません。
iPhoneのアップデートに対応して　以前のような操作ができますように　アプリのアップデートお願いします。

### 4/5 — どれだけの野鳥に出逢えるか、楽しみになる図鑑。

*2021-08-28*

野鳥紹介の画像は画質がよろしくないものもあります。また、識別の際には模様や特徴をよく掴んだ資料があると良いです。
以前有料版を購入しましたが、画質改善は必要かと思います。
使いやすいには使いやすいので★★★★です。

### 1/5 — 検索画面のマイクの絵のアイコン

*2021-04-17*

は、アプリの終了ボタンでしょうか？
鳴き声から検索できるものだとばかり思ってたのですが、違ったようです

### 1/5 — Dont buy this rubbish

*2020-02-02, version 1.4.0*

This is the worst birding app I have ever come across (and I have lots!). There is typically only 1 illustration - poor in itself but sometimes showing breeding plumage when the bird only appears in Japan in winter. There are serious omissions - for instance the japanese endemic Copper Pheasant does not appear at all. the app is also very poor value when compared with very much better apps from other countries.

## Frequently asked questions about Japanese Birds

### What is the price of Japanese Birds?

Japanese Birds is a paid application with a one-time purchase price of $28.99. This provides full access to all features and content without further charges.

### Does Japanese Birds have ads?

No, Japanese Birds does not contain advertisements. It is a premium application designed for an uninterrupted user experience.

### What devices is Japanese Birds compatible with?

Japanese Birds is compatible with iPhone and iPod touch devices. It is designed to run on iOS.

### How often is Japanese Birds updated?

The app was last updated on July 26, 2022, with version 1.4.3. Previous updates have focused on bug fixes and compatibility with newer iOS versions.

### What is the age rating for Japanese Birds?

Japanese Birds has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for a wide range of users including children and adults interested in birds.

### Can I use Japanese Birds offline?

Yes, once installed, Japanese Birds can be used to look up birds and play sounds anytime, anywhere without an internet connection, eliminating the need for heavy guidebooks.

### How does the search function in Japanese Birds work?

You can search for birds by common name, scientific name, Japanese name, or even by characteristics like color, size, habitat, or distribution. Results are sorted by size for easy browsing.

### What kind of sounds does Japanese Birds offer?

Japanese Birds includes 364 sounds, encompassing bird songs, calls, and drumming. These sounds can be played directly or used for ear training in blind mode.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 1.5.1 — 2026-04-27

Now supports iOS 26.
Updated to reflect the taxonomy of the Checklist of Japanese Birds, 8th Revised Edition.

You can switch between the 6th, 7th, and 8th editions in Settings. After changing the setting, either switch the menu (Japanese syllabary order / family order / family name in syllabary order) or restart the app for the display to update.

### 1.4.3 — 2022-07-26

Bug fixed in Player mode.

### 1.4.2 — 2022-07-23

minor bug fix.

### 1.4.1 — 2022-06-26

- Build for iOS 15
- Fixed bugs of display on some devices.

### 1.4.0 — 2018-04-16

This app has been updated by Apple to display the Apple Watch app icon.

- Build for iOS 11 
- Adjust for 4.7 inch, 5.5 inch screen size
- Added link to Wikipedia ja/en
- Fixed minor bugs

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## More apps by Enwit Inc.

- [Japanese Birds 50](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/japanese-birds-50/id368521402)
- [Smart Birding 〜野鳥映像アーカイブス〜](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-birding/id527047879)
- [日本の豆](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/id1260389881)

All apps by Enwit Inc.: https://appshunter.io/developer/342467759

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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 2026-09-04.*