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Best Bird Sightings Apps

250+ iOS apps curated and reviewed

4.5 avg rating
20 free apps
Updated August 2026

Out of 250+ 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 (August 2026)

#AppPriceRatingAdsIn-App PurchasesUpdated
1eBirdeBirdFree3.8β˜… (797)NoNoAug 2026
2Merlin Bird ID by Cornell LabMerlin Bird ID by Cornell LabFree4.9β˜… (111K)NoNoAug 2026
3Audubon Bird GuideAudubon Bird GuideFree4.3β˜… (4.5K)YesNoAug 2026
4Birda - Bird Watching, BirdingBirda - Bird Watching, BirdingFree4.7β˜… (2.1K)NoYesAug 2026
5BirdAlertPROBirdAlertPROFreeβ€”NoNoAug 2026
6MyBirdBookMyBirdBookFreeβ€”NoNoJul 2026
7BirdGuidesBirdGuidesFreeβ€”NoNoAug 2026
8Bird Tracker - Sightings MapBird Tracker - Sightings MapFreeβ€”NoYesAug 2026

Top Picks for Bird Sightings

eBird#1

eBird by Cornell University

Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Editor's Choice
πŸ” Reference
3.8😐(797 ratings)
Free
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

Room to Improve

  • πŸ› Frequent crashes and bugs
  • πŸ”‹ High battery consumption
  • πŸ“ Issues with location tracking and mapping
Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab#2

Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab by Cornell University

Identify Birds You See & Hear
Strong Contender
πŸ” Reference
4.9😊(111K ratings)
Free
#13in 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

Room to Improve

  • πŸ› Sound ID not always accurate
  • πŸ› Occasional crashes or bugs
  • πŸ› Difficulty adding birds to life list
Audubon Bird Guide#3

Audubon Bird Guide by National Audubon Society

Identify over 800 bird species
Worth Considering
πŸ” Reference
4.3😊(4.5K ratings)
FreeAds
Audubon Bird Guide screenshot 1
Audubon Bird Guide screenshot 2
Audubon Bird Guide screenshot 3
Audubon Bird Guide screenshot 4
Audubon Bird Guide screenshot 5

Identify North American birds with this comprehensive field guide. Features include a bird ID tool based on observations, detailed species information with photos and audio, and a personal sightings log. Discover nearby birding locations and connect with conservation efforts.

What We Love

  • πŸš€ Great app
  • πŸ‘ Easy to use
  • πŸ” Helpful for identifying birds
  • 🎢 Useful bird calls and sounds

Room to Improve

  • πŸ› Buggy and crashes
  • πŸ”„ Confusing interface changes
  • πŸ”’ Requires account creation

More Bird Sightings apps to explore

4
Birda - Bird Watching, Birding
Birda - Bird Watching, Birding
Birda - Bird Watching, Birding
eBird Import & AI Identifier
Free

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.

AI bird identification from photosManual bird identification with AI textDetailed species guide with calls and maps
πŸ” Reference
(2.1K)
free with in-app purchases
5
BirdAlertPRO
BirdAlertPRO
BirdAlertPRO
Birdnews for all birders
Free

This app provides daily bird and wildlife sightings across the UK and Ireland. It offers detailed directions, map pins, and breaking news on rare species. Users can set custom alerts for specific wildlife and view a daily updated photo gallery.

NearMe bird sightingsDetailed map pins for locationsSubmit wildlife news
πŸ“‘ News
(0)
free
6
MyBirdBook
MyBirdBook
MyBirdBook
Your Personal Birding Journal
Free
πŸ”§ Utilities
(0)
7
BirdGuides
BirdGuides
BirdGuides
First for Bird News
Free

Access comprehensive bird news and sightings with an interactive map and advanced search. Submit your own observations and receive personalized notifications for desired species. Discover local and rare birds with detailed information and navigation assistance.

Interactive BirdMap with sightingsFilter sightings by raritySophisticated search of sightings database
🌟 Lifestyle
(0)
free
8
Bird Tracker - Sightings Map
Bird Tracker - Sightings Map
Bird Tracker - Sightings Map
Bird watching & rare alerts
Free
🌟 Lifestyle
(0)
9
BirdTrack
BirdTrack
BirdTrack
by British Trust for Ornithology
Free

Easily record bird sightings and other wildlife observations from your mobile device. Track your lists, explore local birdwatching spots, and contribute to vital research and conservation efforts. Your data syncs seamlessly with your online account.

Record bird and wildlife sightingsOffline mapping and recordingIllustrated species checklist
πŸ” Reference
(2)
free
10
Bird Scanner - 10,000+ Birds
Bird Scanner - 10,000+ Birds
Bird Scanner - 10,000+ Birds
Search a bird with AI Camera
Free

Identify birds using your camera or by uploading a photo. Explore a vast database of over 10,000 species, categorized by family and genre. Discover a new bird each day with a special feature.

AI camera bird identificationIdentify birds by photoBrowse birds by family
πŸ“š Education
(1)
free
11
Bird Sit Spot
Bird Sit Spot
Bird Sit Spot
Calm birdwatching sessions
Free

This app encourages mindful birdwatching by providing a calm environment for observation. It features timed sessions, gentle prompts, and the ability to log detailed notes and photos of your sightings. Track your progress and build a routine with personalized observation spots and achievements.

Timed observation sessionsGentle sensory promptsLog bird observations with details
🌟 Lifestyle
(2)
free
12
DiBird – Bird Watching Journal
DiBird – Bird Watching Journal
DiBird – Bird Watching Journal
Log Sightings, Explore & Rank
Free
πŸ” Reference
(0)
13
Bird Identifier - Birding ID
Bird Identifier - Birding ID
Bird Identifier - Birding ID
Identify birds by picture AI
Free
πŸ“š Education
(0)
14
Bird Alarm
Bird Alarm
Bird Alarm
by BA Mobility AB
Free

This app connects bird watchers globally, allowing users to share real-time alerts of bird sightings. Discover and share interesting bird rarities with a community of reputable bird watchers.

Real-time bird sighting alertsShare bird discoveriesDiscover rare birds
🌟 Lifestyle
(0)
free
15
Bird Song Identifier・Sounds ID
Bird Song Identifier・Sounds ID
Bird Song Identifier・Sounds ID
Picture Identify Birds Calls
Free
🌟 Lifestyle
(0)
16
Flyway Birding
Flyway Birding
Flyway Birding
by MARTY RADD ICENOGGLE
Free
πŸ” Reference
(0)
17
Ataavi Bird Hub India
Ataavi Bird Hub India
Ataavi Bird Hub India
Bird ID, Checklist & Community
Free
πŸ“š Education
(0)
18
African Bird Club
African Bird Club
African Bird Club
by African Bird Club
Free
πŸ“š Books
(0)
19
Bird Identifier - Birdify
Bird Identifier - Birdify
Bird Identifier - Birdify
Birding & Bird ID
Free
πŸ“š Education
(0)
20
Flock Yard Bird List
Flock Yard Bird List
Flock Yard Bird List
Birding with Friends
Free

Easily track birds seen in your yard, share sightings and photos with friends, and connect with a community of nature enthusiasts. Enjoy beautiful bird art and compete on leaderboards for a fun, social birdwatching experience.

Log and track bird sightingsShare sightings and photos with friendsCompete on community leaderboards
πŸ” Reference
(22)
freemium

FAQ about Bird Sightings

What are the best bird sightings apps for iPhone?
eBird tops our bird sightings apps ranking as of August 2026, with a 3.8-star average from 797 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 Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab.
eBird has no ads and has no in-app purchases, according to its App Store listing as of August 2026.
We track 250+ bird sightings apps on the iOS App Store as of August 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.