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Best Bird Sightings Apps

249+ iOS apps curated and reviewed

4.4 avg rating
20 free apps
Updated September 2026

Out of 249+ bird sightings apps on iOS, 20 are free and the rest sit in the paid tier. This page sorts them so you can compare both sides before you commit.

Compare top Bird Sightings Apps (September 2026)

#AppPriceRatingAdsIn-App PurchasesUpdated
1eBirdeBirdFree3.8β˜… (803)NoNoSep 2026
2Birda - Bird Watching, BirdingBirda - Bird Watching, BirdingFree4.7β˜… (2.2K)NoYesSep 2026
3Merlin Bird ID by Cornell LabMerlin Bird ID by Cornell LabFree4.9β˜… (111K)NoNoSep 2026
4Audubon Bird GuideAudubon Bird GuideFree4.3β˜… (4.5K)YesNoSep 2026
5BirdAlertPROBirdAlertPROFreeβ€”NoNoSep 2026
6Bird Tracker - Sightings MapBird Tracker - Sightings MapFreeβ€”NoYesSep 2026
7Birdar: Track and Find BirdsBirdar: Track and Find BirdsFreeβ€”NoNoAug 2026
8BirdGuidesBirdGuidesFreeβ€”NoNoSep 2026

Top Picks for Bird Sightings

eBird#1

eBird by Cornell University

Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Editor's Choice
πŸ” Reference
3.8😐(803 ratings)
Free
#90in Reference
eBird screenshot 1
eBird screenshot 2
eBird screenshot 3
eBird screenshot 4
eBird screenshot 5

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.

What We Love

  • πŸš€ Excellent for citizen science
  • πŸ” Helpful for finding birds at hotspots
  • πŸ“š Useful for tracking life lists
  • πŸ‘ Easy to use and submit checklists
  • 🀝 Integrates well with Merlin Bird ID

Room to Improve

  • πŸ› Frequent crashes and bugs
  • πŸ”‹ High battery consumption
  • πŸ“ Issues with location tracking and mapping
  • πŸ€” Unintuitive user interface
  • πŸ”’ Privacy concerns with location data
Birda - Bird Watching, Birding#2

Birda - Bird Watching, Birding by Chirp Birding Ltd.

eBird Import & AI Identifier
Strong Contender
πŸ” Reference
4.7😊(2.2K ratings)
FreeIn-App Purchases
#55in Reference
Birda - Bird Watching, Birding screenshot 1
Birda - Bird Watching, Birding screenshot 2
Birda - Bird Watching, Birding screenshot 3
Birda - Bird Watching, Birding screenshot 4
Birda - Bird Watching, Birding screenshot 5
Birda - Bird Watching, Birding screenshot 6

This app helps you identify birds using AI, track your sightings, and build life lists. Connect with a global community, discover new species, and contribute to conservation efforts. It also allows for easy import of your existing birding data.

What We Love

  • πŸ‘ Friendly and helpful community
  • πŸ“š Informative bird guides and species information
  • 🎯 Challenges and badges to encourage birding
  • πŸ“Έ Easy to log and share bird sightings
  • πŸ—ΊοΈ Ability to see nearby bird sightings
  • πŸ†• Beginner-friendly and intuitive to use

Room to Improve

  • πŸ› Bugs and glitches (crashes, slow loading, etc.)
  • πŸ’° Paid subscription required for some features
  • πŸ” Limited bird species coverage in some areas
  • πŸ”’ Privacy concerns with full camera roll access
  • πŸ—ΊοΈ Nearby sightings radius too large for some users
Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab#3

Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab by Cornell University

Identify Birds You See & Hear
Worth Considering
πŸ” Reference
4.9😊(111K ratings)
Free
#10in Reference
Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab screenshot 1
Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab screenshot 2
Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab screenshot 3
Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab screenshot 4
Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab screenshot 5
Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab screenshot 6

Easily identify birds by sight or sound using advanced machine learning. Explore birds in your region, track your sightings, and learn about species with photos, sounds, and range maps. This free app from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology helps build your birding skills.

What We Love

  • πŸš€ Helpful for bird identification
  • πŸ”’ Accurate bird identification
  • πŸ‘ Easy to use
  • πŸ‘ Useful for beginners and experts
  • πŸ‘ Enjoyable and fun to use
  • πŸ‘ Comprehensive bird information
  • πŸ‘ Excellent sound identification feature
  • πŸ‘ Connects with eBird
  • πŸ‘ Free app with no ads

Room to Improve

  • πŸ› Sound ID not always accurate
  • πŸ› Occasional crashes or bugs
  • πŸ› Difficulty adding birds to life list
  • πŸ› Limited bird packs for certain regions
  • πŸ› Requires location access
  • πŸ› High battery consumption
  • πŸ› Confusing user interface in some areas

More Bird Sightings apps to explore

FAQ about Bird Sightings

What are the best bird sightings apps for iPhone?
eBird tops our bird sightings apps ranking as of September 2026, with a 3.8-star average from 803 App Store ratings, and it's free to download.
Yes β€” 20 of the top bird sightings apps we rank are free to download, including eBird and Birda - Bird Watching, Birding.
eBird has no ads and has no in-app purchases, according to its App Store listing as of September 2026.
We track 249+ bird sightings apps on the iOS App Store as of September 2026, ranked by rating, recency, and analysis of real user reviews.
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.
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.