Apps for Bird Identification
See all 4 photos What's that bird?Source: Stephanie Henkel
Theres an App for that!
Dedicated birders are often identified by the paraphernalia that they carry. A birder will have binoculars and his life list, a camera and tripod, and field guide and notebook. How much easier a birders life would be if he or she didnt have to lug around all that stuff!
BUT WAIT! Theres a birding app for that!
If you have an iPad, Smartphone, Kindle Fire or other android device, you can get an inexpensive app that will outshine your current field guide by miles. How would you like an all-in-one place to look up birds, their habits, habitats, photographs, bird calls and shapes? In the same location, you can update your life list and keep notes. Check out the nifty new electronic field guides made especially for birders and naturalists.
An app for birdwatchers
No kidding, a birdwatcher who is in step with modern technology can carry many of these necessities electronically in one small device. With an android phone, a Kindle Fire, and iPad or other compatible device, birdwatchers can carry a library of field guides, their life list and a notebook all in one lightweight piece of technology.
Identify birds by shape or color
See all 4 photos Did you identify this Mexican Jay?Source: Stephanie Henkel
Add notes and update your life list
As an amateur birdwatcher, my very favorite app is Audubons Field Guide for Birds that I use on my Kindle Fire. In addition to a comprehensive guide for bird identification, there is the option of keeping notes and updating your life lists. This provides a wonderful place to keep records of your observations and sightings for review later.
See all 4 photos
My favorite field guide app
The National Audubon Society Field Guide for Birds
How does it work?
Browse by Shape - This gives you a selection of basic shapes from which to choose. Match a shape with the shape of the bird you are trying to identify, touch the screen, and a list of all birds with that basic shape will appear. Touch the bird you think it is, and you will get a more detailed listing. For example, if you choose the shape of "swallow-like birds", you will get your choice of swallows or swifts. You then touch "swallows" and get a listing of different kinds of swallows.( bank swallows, barn swallows, tree swallows...etc.). If you chose one of these, you get a selection of full color pictures usually including adults, male, female, juvenile, sometimes including pictures of the bird in flight or in the nest.
At the bottom of the screen, you can touch "Range", Voice, description or similar to get more information or go on to see similar birds.
Browse by color, habitat or similar birds
The app is easier to use than a paper book as it just takes a touch to flip through similar birds, birds of the same color or birds with the same habitat. One of the features that I really love is that the photographs are so much better than many of the field guides Ive had. In most cases there are several shots of the same bird, male, female and young so that you can see different colors.
Hear the actual Bird call recordings
Best of all, is the bird call section. With a touch of the button, you can listen to prerecorded bird calls of the bird you are identifying (you might want to get ear buds if you are using this out in the field). I was particularly impressed that some birds had a selection of bird calls representing their morning song, distress signal and song during mating.
Other Field Guides for your android or Kindle Fire
Field guides for an iPhone, iPad, Kindle Fire or other android device are sure to be useful references for anyone interested in bird, flower, butterfly or insect identification. There are some free apps available, too, but I personally prefer the Audubon Field Guides with their beautiful photographs and comprehensive information. Check them all out at Amazon.com!
See all 4 photos
See all 4 photos Source: Stephanie Henkel
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