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Best Bird Sightings Apps

201+ iOS apps curated and reviewed

4.4 avg rating
20 free apps
Updated July 2026

Out of 201+ 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 (July 2026)

#AppPriceRatingAdsIn-App PurchasesUpdated
1Birda - Bird Watching, BirdingBirda - Bird Watching, BirdingFree4.7β˜… (2.1K)NoYesAug 2026
2Merlin Bird ID by Cornell LabMerlin Bird ID by Cornell LabFree4.9β˜… (109K)NoNoAug 2026
3BirdAlertPROBirdAlertPROFreeβ€”NoNoJul 2026
4Audubon Bird GuideAudubon Bird GuideFree4.3β˜… (4.5K)YesNoAug 2026
5eBirdeBirdFree3.8β˜… (781)NoNoAug 2026
6BirdGuidesBirdGuidesFreeβ€”NoNoMay 2026
7BirdTrackBirdTrackFree4.0β˜… (2)NoNoJul 2026
8Picture Bird: Bird identifierPicture Bird: Bird identifierFree4.7β˜… (40K)NoYesAug 2026

Top Picks for Bird Sightings

Birda - Bird Watching, Birding#1

Birda - Bird Watching, Birding by Chirp Birding Ltd.

eBird Import & AI Identifier
Editor's Choice
πŸ” Reference
4.7😊(2.1K ratings)
FreeIn-App Purchases
#94in 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

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
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😊(109K ratings)
Free
#7in 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
BirdAlertPRO#3

BirdAlertPRO by Rare Bird Alert

Birdnews for all birders
Worth Considering
πŸ“‘ News
0.0(0 ratings)
Free
BirdAlertPRO screenshot 1
BirdAlertPRO screenshot 2
BirdAlertPRO screenshot 3
BirdAlertPRO screenshot 4
BirdAlertPRO screenshot 5
BirdAlertPRO screenshot 6

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.

More Bird Sightings apps to explore

4
Audubon Bird Guide
Audubon Bird Guide
Audubon Bird Guide
Identify over 800 bird species
Free

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.

Bird identification toolDetailed species profilesBird song and call audio
πŸ” Reference
(4.5K)
free with in-app purchases
5
eBird
eBird
eBird
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Free

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 globallyGlobal taxonomy and local common namesLocation and time-based checklists
πŸ” Reference
(781)
free
6
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
7
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
8
Picture Bird: Bird identifier
Picture Bird: Bird identifier
Picture Bird: Bird identifier
Bird Sound & Image ID, Birding
Free

Identify birds by photo or sound with this smart app. Access detailed information, learn about bird feeding, and manage your sightings. It's a comprehensive tool for bird enthusiasts of all levels.

Accurate bird identification by photo or soundBirding camera with automatic sharpeningBird feeding guidance and tips
πŸ” Reference
(40K)
free with in-app purchases
9
Learn Bird Watchingβ€”Larkwire
Learn Bird Watchingβ€”Larkwire
Learn Bird Watchingβ€”Larkwire
Smart Birding & Identification
Free

Learn to identify birds by sound and sight with a game-based system. This app offers audio and visual courses created by experts to improve your birding skills, suitable for beginners and advanced enthusiasts alike.

Game-based learning systemIdentify birds by soundIdentify birds by sight
πŸ“š Education
(1.3K)
free with in-app purchases
10
Birdbuddy: ID & Collect Birds
Birdbuddy: ID & Collect Birds
Birdbuddy: ID & Collect Birds
Identify by photo & sound
Free

Instantly identify bird species using your phone's camera or microphone, or through a smart feeder. Collect digital postcards, learn fascinating facts, and contribute to conservation efforts with this global birdwatching community app.

Identify birds by photo or soundSmart feeder integrationCollect and learn bird facts
πŸ“š Education
(61K)
free with in-app purchases
11
Identify Birds – Smart Bird ID
Identify Birds – Smart Bird ID
Identify Birds – Smart Bird ID
From photo or sound. Instantly
Free

Instantly identify birds from photos or sounds. Explore a global bird guide, learn through interactive challenges and courses, and log your sightings. Connect with a community of bird watchers and collect animated stickers.

Identify birds by photoIdentify birds by soundGlobal bird identification guide
πŸ“š Education
(17K)
free with in-app purchases
12
EyeLoveBirds: Bird Checklists
EyeLoveBirds: Bird Checklists
EyeLoveBirds: Bird Checklists
Bird ID, sightings, sounds
Free

This comprehensive bird watching guide helps you identify birds and log your sightings across the United States, Canada, and Europe. Access detailed profiles with photos, sounds, and range maps for thousands of species. Track your life list and discover birds near your current location.

Identify birds by appearance, call, or locationLog bird sightings and track life listsAccess detailed scientific bird profiles
πŸ” Reference
(524)
free with in-app purchases
13
Bird Identifier: BirdScope
Bird Identifier: BirdScope
Bird Identifier: BirdScope
Bird Call & Photo Identifier
Free

Instantly identify birds using photos or sound with advanced AI. Explore a comprehensive encyclopedia, access bird watching guides, and build your personal collection of identified species. Discover fun avian facts and connect with a community of bird lovers.

AI-powered photo identificationBird sound recording and identificationExtensive bird encyclopedia
🌟 Lifestyle
(2.7K)
free with in-app purchases
14
Bird Sounds Identifier Call ID
Bird Sounds Identifier Call ID
Bird Sounds Identifier Call ID
Bird Identifier By Sound, Song
Free

Identify birds by their songs or images. This app can recognize over 10,000 species, providing detailed information and photos. It's designed for bird lovers and nature enthusiasts to easily learn about avian life.

Identify birds by pictureIdentify birds by soundRecognize 10,000+ bird species
πŸ” Reference
(13K)
free with in-app purchases
15
Birdfy
Birdfy
Birdfy
The Bird Side of Life
Free

Monitor your backyard for feathered visitors with real-time live streaming and automatic video capture of bird activity. Organize your recordings by species, share your discoveries with a global community, and even track the entire nesting and hatching process.

Real-time bird visitor trackingAutomatic video capture of bird momentsCategorized video clips by bird species
πŸ”§ Utilities
(2.9K)
free with in-app purchases
16
Vico Nature: Smart Nature View
Vico Nature: Smart Nature View
Vico Nature: Smart Nature View
Watch birds, Feel peace.
Free

Observe birds at your feeder from anywhere with live video and daily highlights. Receive smart alerts when birds arrive and enjoy multi-user access to share nature's wonders. Enhance your experience with extended cloud history and customizable activity zones.

Live bird feeder videoDaily highlight reelsSmart bird arrival alerts
🌟 Lifestyle
(1.6K)
free with in-app purchases
17
Bird Identifier, Bird Id
Bird Identifier, Bird Id
Bird Identifier, Bird Id
Bird Identification, Birding
Free

Instantly identify birds from a single photo using AI. Get detailed information on each bird, save your discoveries, and share them with friends. Perfect for bird watchers and nature lovers.

AI-powered bird identificationDetailed bird informationSave and share identifications
πŸ” Reference
(1.9K)
free with in-app purchases
18
COOLFLY：Free Bird ID&Community
COOLFLY：Free Bird ID&Community
COOLFLY：Free Bird ID&Community
Bird watching. Shared moments.
Free

Connect with a global community of bird lovers. Manage your bird feeders, capture and share photos/videos of birds, and discover nature's wonders. Engage with others through stories, comments, and challenges, even without a feeder.

Bird feeder managementPhoto and video captureGlobal community sharing
πŸ“š Education
(495)
freemium
19
Bird lover feeder
Bird lover feeder
Bird lover feeder
by Guangdong Pine Lake Technology Co., Ltd
Free

This app uses AI to identify birds visiting your feeder. Remotely capture photos and videos, share access with loved ones, and receive reminders about backyard visitors. Never miss a moment with playback support.

AI bird recognitionRemote photo and video captureDevice sharing
🌟 Lifestyle
(300)
free
20
Bird Tracker - Sightings Map
Bird Tracker - Sightings Map
Bird Tracker - Sightings Map
Live Bird Map & Photos
Free
🌟 Lifestyle
(0)

FAQ about Bird Sightings

What are the best bird sightings apps for iPhone?
Birda - Bird Watching, Birding tops our bird sightings apps ranking as of July 2026, with a 4.7-star average from 2.1K 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 Birda - Bird Watching, Birding and Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab.
Birda - Bird Watching, Birding has no ads and offers in-app purchases, according to its App Store listing as of July 2026.
We track 201+ bird sightings apps on the iOS App Store as of July 2026, ranked by rating, recency, and analysis of real user reviews.
Birda is a comprehensive birdwatching app designed to help users identify birds, log their sightings, and connect with a global community of birders. It offers AI-powered identification from photos and text descriptions, a detailed species guide, and tools for tracking progress and building life lists.
You can identify birds using Birda in several ways: by uploading a photo for AI identification, by describing the bird in your own words for AI text identification, or by browsing the app's detailed species guide which includes photos, bird calls, and ID tips. You can also ask the Birda community for help with identification.