iPhone apps for bird ID ang logging

Do you have any suggestions? Experience with particular apps?

iBird allows notes to be saved.I think a new add on app for logging was just released too.

Thx. Have you used it?

I found this helpful comparison. I'm going with iBird.

I have tried apps for logging. TBH, if I am actually trying to log bird sightings then I will write them down in a notebook but only if I am counting numbers all day. I can usually just remember the species I have seen in one day. I then transfer it to and excel spreadsheet when I get home (only for lifers or year birds). Iphone logging is waaay to much of a hassle IMO if you are out in the field. I have yet to see any serious birder using their iphone to log species count/numbers, there must be a reason for that.

I use Peterson's.

I do use ibird. I don't have the add on but the main app is wonderful

BirdBoy wrote in post #16289572
I have tried apps for logging. TBH, if I am actually trying to log bird sightings then I will write them down in a notebook but only if I am counting numbers all day. I can usually just remember the species I have seen in one day. I then transfer it to and excel spreadsheet when I get home (only for lifers or year birds). Iphone logging is waaay to much of a hassle IMO if you are out in the field. I have yet to see any serious birder using their iphone to log species count/numbers, there must be a reason for that.

Thanks Evan. I think my main purpose would be for identification. If it does I'd that's nice. But really was looking for something that had a lot of species and was easy to locate the right one.

ed57gmc wrote in post #16289978
Thanks Evan. I think my main purpose would be for identification. If it does I'd that's nice. But really was looking for something that had a lot of species and was easy to locate the right one.

If your main purpose is for identification, then I would forget phone apps all together as they provide very little information (i.e. variable plumages) compared to the traditional field guide. A very good starting place is the Sibley's Guide to Birds, arguably the most thorough and accurate bird guide on the market for North America. If your main goal for an app was to be portable, then I suggest one of Sibley's regional guides (SIbley's Guide to Western North America, or Eastern North America). They are much smaller by excluding the species that do not inhabit your region. But are still as helpful as the full version. I have the full version and the Western version. The full version is my at home copy, while my Western version is my field guide.

The only place where I do find birding apps to be helpful is for calls. Since a field guide's description of bird calls can be quite comical (i.e. "a rapid, decending, keh keh ke keh ke"). An actual recording really can help if you aren't sure what you heard. So basically, leave the physical identification to the field guides, and the vocal ID to the apps.

BirdBoy wrote in post #16292475
If your main purpose is for identification, then I would forget phone apps all together as they provide very little information (i.e. variable plumages) compared to the traditional field guide. A very good starting place is the Sibley's Guide to Birds, arguably the most thorough and accurate bird guide on the market for North America. If your main goal for an app was to be portable, then I suggest one of Sibley's regional guides (SIbley's Guide to Western North America, or Eastern North America). They are much smaller by excluding the species that do not inhabit your region. But are still as helpful as the full version. I have the full version and the Western version. The full version is my at home copy, while my Western version is my field guide.

The only place where I do find birding apps to be helpful is for calls. Since a field guide's description of bird calls can be quite comical (i.e. "a rapid, decending, keh keh ke keh ke"). An actual recording really can help if you aren't sure what you heard. So basically, leave the physical identification to the field guides, and the vocal ID to the apps.

I'll have to make a trip to the library and check it out.

Thx

I use Audubon Birds, can both log and use it to ID with.

If you are interested in reporting to Ebird, then I'd recommend BirdLog. It is only used for logging.