Best Birding Apps & Games

175+ iOS apps & games curated and reviewed

4.6 avg rating
19 free apps & games
Updated May 2026

Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab is the household name in birding, but it's far from the only option. We track 175+ alternatives and competitors on iOS — many free, many higher-rated than you'd expect.

Top Picks for Birding

Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab#1

Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab by Cornell University

Identify Birds You See & Hear
Editor's Choice
🔍 Reference
4.9😊(108K ratings)
FreeAds
#2in 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

A bird identification app that allows users to identify bird species by capturing and uploading photos. Experience the convenience of instantly recognizing birds with just a snapshot.

What We Love

  • 🚀 Helpful for bird identification
  • 🔒 Accurate bird identification
  • 👍 Easy to use
  • 👍 Useful for beginners and experts

Room to Improve

  • 🐛 Sound ID not always accurate
  • 🐛 Occasional crashes or bugs
  • 🐛 Difficulty adding birds to life list
eBird#2

eBird by Cornell University

Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Strong Contender
🔍 Reference
3.8😐(727 ratings)
Free
#53in Reference
eBird screenshot 1
eBird screenshot 2
eBird screenshot 3
eBird screenshot 4
eBird screenshot 5

Record bird observations globally with eBird Mobile, linking seamlessly to a worldwide database. Easily track and share sightings for research, education, and conservation. Download now for iOS devices to contribute to birding science!

What We Love

  • 🚀 Excellent for citizen science
  • 🔍 Helpful for finding birds at hotspots
  • 📚 Useful for tracking life lists
  • 👍 Easy to use and submit checklists

Room to Improve

  • 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
  • 🔋 High battery consumption
  • 📍 Issues with location tracking and mapping
Birda - Bird Watching, Birding#3

Birda - Bird Watching, Birding by Chirp Birding Ltd

eBird Import & Free Identifier
Worth Considering
🔍 Reference
4.7😊(1.8K ratings)
FreeAdsIn-App Purchases
#51in 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

Discover and identify birds with ease using a powerful app that offers detailed information and images. Experience the joy of bird watching like never before – download now!

What We Love

  • 👍 Friendly and helpful community
  • 📚 Informative bird guides and species information
  • 🎯 Challenges and badges to encourage birding
  • 📸 Easy to log and share bird sightings

Room to Improve

  • 🐛 Bugs and glitches (crashes, slow loading, etc.)
  • 💰 Paid subscription required for some features
  • 🔍 Limited bird species coverage in some areas

More Birding apps to explore

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

Identify and learn about over 800 North American bird species with this comprehensive field guide app. Features include bird identification, tracking sightings, exploring nearby birds, sharing photos, and getting involved in bird conservation efforts. Download now to start your birdwatching adventure!

🔍 Reference
(4.5K)
5
BirdingApp.
BirdingApp.
BirdingApp.
connecting birders
Free

Connect with fellow birders, plan your birding trips, and stay updated on bird sightings with this comprehensive app. It offers features such as profile creation, chat groups, rare bird alerts, trip planning, and friendly competition to enhance your birding experience.

🌐 Social Networking
(32)
6
OpenBirding
OpenBirding
OpenBirding
Explore birding hotspots
Free
🗺️ Navigation
(4)
7
Learn Bird Watching—Larkwire
Learn Bird Watching—Larkwire
Learn Bird Watching—Larkwire
Smart Birding & Identification
Free

Discover an intelligent bird watching application that enhances your birding experience with audiovisual training and interactive challenges. Start exploring the world of birds today!

📚 Education
(1.2K)
8
Birdr - Birding & Bird ID
Birdr - Birding & Bird ID
Birdr - Birding & Bird ID
Field Guide, Life List & Map
Free
🔍 Reference
(4)
9
Birdbuddy: ID & Collect Birds
Birdbuddy: ID & Collect Birds
Birdbuddy: ID & Collect Birds
Identify by photo & sound
Free

Discover, photograph, and learn about birds with Bird Buddy. Use the app to connect with a global community of bird feeders, pair with your Bird Buddy Smart Bird Feeder for up-close images, and contribute to bird conservation efforts. Join now to tap into nature!

📚 Education
(1.4K)
10
eBird Alert!
eBird Alert!
eBird Alert!
Find Nearby Rare Birds
Free

Find rare birds in your area by accessing a global database of bird sightings from fellow birders, with features to filter by location and recency, view photos and identification details, and add sightings to your own checklist. Download the app to start spotting and recording rare birds near you.

🔍 Reference
(7)
11
Picture Bird: Bird identifier
Picture Bird: Bird identifier
Picture Bird: Bird identifier
Identify Sound & Call, Birding
Free

Use Picture Bird to instantly identify bird species by their sounds. Simply record a bird call and let the app provide you with accurate bird species information. Start exploring the world of avian sounds today!

🔍 Reference
(35K)
12
iBird Pro Guide to Birds
iBird Pro Guide to Birds
iBird Pro Guide to Birds
Field Guide to North America
Free

Transform your iPhone into a field guide to birds with a self-contained app offering offline access to bird species across North America, the UK, and Hawaii. Features include advanced search, stunning illustrations, vivid photos, bird songs, and photo recognition capabilities. Embark on a captivating birdwatching adventure with this ultimate birding companion and unlock a year of subscription for previous users. Explore more at the app's website for a comprehensive birding experience.

🔍 Reference
(7K)
13
COOLFLY: Birding & Connection
COOLFLY: Birding & Connection
COOLFLY: Birding & Connection
Bird watching. Shared moments.
Free

"CoolFly is a global app that allows bird enthusiasts to connect, share their birdwatching experiences, and access educational resources about various bird species. With features like managing bird feeders, capturing stunning photos and videos, and participating in challenges, CoolFly offers a comprehensive platform for bird lovers to explore and engage with the birdwatching community."

📚 Education
(279)
14
BirdsEye Bird Finding Guide
BirdsEye Bird Finding Guide
BirdsEye Bird Finding Guide
A Global Birding Tool
Free

Discover birds around you and worldwide with BirdsEye, a powerful bird finding guide. From instant bird lists to trip planning and bird sound packages, BirdsEye is a must-have tool for birders at any level. Join now to unlock premium features and support bird conservation efforts!

🔍 Reference
(1.8K)
15
Seek by iNaturalist
Seek by iNaturalist
Seek by iNaturalist
Identify plants & animals
Free

Seek by iNaturalist is a plant identification app that helps users identify plants and animals using image recognition technology. Simply take a picture, and the app will provide information about the species. Explore nature with Seek today!

📚 Education
(31K)
16
Identify Birds – Smart Bird ID
Identify Birds – Smart Bird ID
Identify Birds – Smart Bird ID
From photo or sound. Instantly
Free

Easily identify birds you encounter with a simple click using advanced image recognition technology. Say goodbye to birdwatching guesswork – start identifying birds with just a snap!

📚 Education
(17K)
17
Sibley Birds 2nd Edition
Sibley Birds 2nd Edition
Sibley Birds 2nd Edition
Birds of North America
$19.99

Discover over 930 North American bird species with detailed artwork, descriptions, and distribution maps in this comprehensive birdwatching app. Benefit from regular updates, bird calls, and user-friendly features like Smart Search and My Location settings to easily identify and learn about birds. Try it now and start exploring the birds of USA and Canada!

🔍 Reference
(2.4K)
18
BirdsEye Biggest Week in American Birding Festival App
BirdsEye Biggest Week in American Birding Festival App
BirdsEye Biggest Week in American Birding Festival App
by Birds In The Hand, LLC
Free

This app brings together the power of birding finding tools with exclusive access to a premier birding festival, featuring workshops, guided tours, and expert speakers. Download the app to discover birding hotspots, track sightings, and plan your trip to maximize your birding experience during the 10-day festival.

✈️ Travel
(28)
19
Birdathon
Birdathon
Birdathon
A birding checklist app
Free

This birding checklist app helps you record and organize your bird observations, and share your birding adventures with others. Use it to track your sightings, add field notes, and export your checklists to other platforms, and discover new features like customizable maps and summary views to enhance your birding experience.

📚 Education
(15)
20
World of Wings
World of Wings
World of Wings
Enter a virtual birding world!
Free

"Explore virtual bird habitats worldwide, identify, and add birds to your life list in this immersive birdwatching game. Test your skills, learn through play, and experience realistic bird behavior with high-end virtual optics. Join the journey from Yellowstone to Norfolk Coast, with more exciting regions to come! Contact us for feedback and stay flappy in World of Wings! 🦜🔭"

🎮 Games
(819)

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