eBird Reviews

by Xbadrehvxf

Wow, I really wanted to use eBird but what a mess it is. The basic process of setting up an account and login is impossible without being sent in circles. For example, the simple act of changing a password does not work. When I tried to change the password, hoping I could login, I clicked on the sent link seconds after receiving the email and it said I had waited for more than 24 hours and the password couldn’t be changed!? Huh?!

by Jdn117

After reading reviews of other users being harassed over IDs, I’m changing my review. I have been using this app since 2002 and have over 5 years of bird-in-hand work experience. I’m a former professional photog w/ documentation of many sightings and the software/optics to get clear photos I often use to double check my IDs. I have also been scolded over email for verification on rare IDs - some immediately on absolutely unmistakeable birds and some decades old.

Some may indeed be wrong, some are verified with photos (I don’t submit them, never cared that much to give away my work - now a decade+ later they demand them!) The volunteer reviewers made me feel so stupid and bad about myself! Avoid this app like the plague. Birding should be fun and inclusive and promote conservation! This just makes you feel like you will never ever be good enough.

by Sammcnair

This is why I’ve stopped donating $ to them. They use it to make things worse. They just changed things (again)—now, you have to memorize the complete list of breeding codes or wait til you have internet to look them up. Why?!? They always took a good thing and try to figure out the best way to make it worse!!

by EdLewis2

e-Bird was a 5-star application for entering bird sightings. Recent versions just get more cumbersome and harder to use.
When starting a bird list, it downloads a list for your location based on the users GPS. Now, when submitting it has to download the full bird list again. Why the need to download twice? Waste of time and data.
When picking a location, it used to be easy: enter GPS location, pick a nearby hotspot or use location as given. Now it has to download a full color aerial photo and make you pick a location from that. Aside from the fact that I could not enter an incidental sighting because the map did not cooperate, why waste the time and data with it.
The GPS tracking is poor. It is not possible to download the track taken for other purposes (like geo-locating photos) furthermore e-Bird uses much more battery than other GPS tracking applications I use.
Finally, while a lot of development has gone into making a clumsier application, it still lacks the ability to upload photos from the field or upload GPS tracks.
I still this app, but will have to leave if development continues its downward trend.

by Mirdc

I have been a user of the this app website and decided to try eBird . However, I do not like how you need to turn on geolocation and give eBird access to your position in order to submit a list. Please allow users to use a saved personal location without requiring them to turn on their device's geolocation services first. This would help protect users' privacy.

From now on I will stick to the website for submitting lists and only use eBird for reference or for viewing my already submitted lists.

Also, I cannot see the checklists that I submitted online in eBird . I have signed into the same this app account, but my checklists are not visible.

by Msa12757746552648

Come on, Cornell!! You can do better than this! The recent update completely broke eBird . Would try to load packs and freeze and was completely unable to get to the next step to create a checklist. Just in time for CBC! Unreal. Had to completely reinstall eBird and download all my bird packs. It shouldn’t be this difficult.

by Ahhahahahsjsjdodnejskg

eBird repeatedly will not load information, claims that internet connection is not strong enough even thought internet tests indicate internet is functioning as normal, only one location’s data will load and then no others. I am using a fully updated Gen 2 SE, it is frustrating to see such a great idea die because of poor app design/execution

by Jim Wesley

I must be doing something wrong but I can’t find any way to switch the list to show and search by common names of birds. It’s a total deal breaker that I have to use the scientific names of what we’re seeing. The whole point of eBird should be to make it easy but I have to Google every bird I see, find their scientific name and copy/paste it into eBird . Total fail. What am I doing wrong or who is this serving best? I don’t get it.

by 103438

The Explore section is frustratingly unreliable. The intent is good. See what species have been spotted recently in an area you want to explore? Why, yes! Almost never works, then has the gall to suggest the problem is with the user’s internet connection. How hard can it be to pull results from a database? Perhaps the ornithology department should request the help of the computer science department. You’re Cornell for goodness sake! Please fix this.

by PhoenixSydney

I got eBird when I got Merlin to help me identify and keep track of the birds I see. I love how easily you can switch between Merlin to this app to log a bird that was identified, and how you can download specific area packs instead of all birds in the country. It’s great to have a checklist like this in my pocket when out in the field! However, I have one bug that I’ve had trouble with, and a suggestion.
First off, I can’t use the explore tab to look at local hotspots. When I pick a location, eBird crashes every time. That’s a bummer, especially when I wanted to scout a location to see what was in the area.
As for my suggestion, it would be nice to have more options when making a checklist. For example, if there were counters for male, female, and juvenile, I feel like that might make for more precise and organized data. Perhaps an ambiguous or unknown option as well for species that look identical regardless of sex.
After bug fixes and further improvements in the future, I feel like this would be an even more useful tool.

by Rhenish

Where this app soars is in the database and region packs. I’m in Mexico so downloaded the Mexico pack. This, combined with the global contributions from others, makes eBird worth it. However, the user experience of eBird is quite poor. Having a smooth user experience clearly isn’t a priority. This probably hinders the quality/quantity of the data itself, as I’m sure it turns people away. For example, when you search a hotspot list (e.g. “hawk”), the search is cleared when you try to scroll down the filtered list, so you see the full list, rendering search useless except for the top 3-4 hits (depending on screen size). Also, you cannot actually see information about birds in eBird . You can only see metadata for sightings (common name, time & location). For information about birds (photos, range map, etc.) you need another app; Merlin Bird ID is good for that, and links to this app). Dear Cornell bird lab: please apply for a grant to up your UX game!

by Wolfebr

Whenever I start a new checklist, eBird crashes. It always used to work. I’ve tried restarting my phone, eBird , reinstalling eBird , and similar. Still seeing crashes.

Updated: I deleted all this app data on my phone, then reinstalled, now I can use this app again. Not a great experience, but it is back to being usable.

by Flippjn Flamingo

Just started using this app as a recommendation, however not finding it logical in the way I enter my bird findings and locations. Can’t find common names and pics to help me pick the right bird. My location of the sighting could not be found even though it is a state reserve. I’ll keep trying and see how things work out. Wish me luck!

by Symbiodinium

I use this app a lot, and the mobile app has been great. However, the updated app seems over-designed. Pet peeve: I cannot select from previous locations when entering a list from the past, I have to zoom in on a map that starts with the whole of North America. Why not allow scrolling through the list of previous locations just as when you can when submitting a list in real time? Also, the tracking function is better when the default is OFF.

by Oxidized Guacamole

You'd better get used to seeing that. I'm pretty sure that I actually am connected to the internet. It's an amazing app that greatly enhances birding, no doubt. But it shouldn't take a dozen tries to load what birds have been seen at a local spot.

by Can'tthinkofadamnnickname

I would give eBird 5 stars if it had the ability to add media and access photos while using eBird . I don’t like that I have to go to the website to add my photos and then they aren’t visible when accessing my checklist from eBird .

by BaliMyna

eBird is amazing. I have learned how to identify countless birds. It is also very inclusive with the option to download “bird packs” for a multi you countries so you can identify birds from home to halfway across the world. The birding app itself is also amazing. When you start a checklist it keeps time and keep track of birds is easy with the # and then bird name system. eBird also automatically provides your start location when closing which is extremely helpful

That being said I have a complaint

1. Entering a location in eBird is difficult if you haven’t already been there and you are entering it away from where the birding took place

However, overall it is a wonderful app and tool. I love writing comments and the feeling of satisfaction when I can record an uncommon or even rare species!

by Connor Cochrane

I don’t see why people have such a problem with eBird . I find it real useful for its purpose, to add birds to the this app database. I’ve been using eBird since it came out. It’s improved a lot. Doesn’t crash, or have problems that don’t allow you to submit sightings. People leaving bad reviews because location data is required don’t understand the point of eBird . this app is a scientific project that requires you to show your location so they can graph and track bird populations.

by TheKurosakiClan

Useful app for finding new birds. Personally I have used it three times for this specific reason and found a new bird each time. All the other times I have done bird checklists, and the UI is easy to use once you get the hang of it. It can track your path during your time to make the data more meaningful.
Also, the checklists made with eBird get put to great use if you have an account because the data is entered in one of the world’s biggest public databases for bird sightings.

by Chickadee_246

I faithfully use eBird to create 99% of my birdwatching lists. I use Voice Record app when there’s a bird I hear but don’t recognize. And I keep Merlin Bird ID app as a “field guide” on my phone.

Where eBird shines is the Explore tab! This feature keeps improving and becoming more helpful! I mostly use the Explore tab to search for hotspots in the vicinity I wish to visit. It’s become a very handy feature in the field! I’m looking forward to seeing what other features they add to the Explore tab!

eBird does not offer the full features and experience that the this app website offers (I do not think it could or even should), but it is nonetheless a valuable tool to use in my birding hobby!

by Anonymousebirder

First, app prompts immediate log-in or create an account; makes sense, but annoying. Show me what eBird can do so I’m invested in linking personal data to app. Also, there are lots of instances where a person may wish to view hotspots or bird data through the convenience of an app and may want to do that without logging in. You can’t. OK, so I logged in. App was jittery, laggy, and so far as I can tell, all I’m able to do with it is link my this app account to app and submit bird lists. Yes, Merlin is for looking up birds, but didn’t expect such limited functionality relative to this app features. Would like to see: 1) optional feature-based log-in; 2) access to bird hotspots and this app regional data (even limited) without log-in; 3)store bird lists for later and submit with log-in (would benefit ppl without internet connection), and most importantly 4)let me update settings before logging in so I know what it’s doing with my location, name, data etc. currently have no idea if I’m anonymous or not in app. Most people using eBird aren’t immediately planning to create a bird list upon download, so it seems like an order of operations issue. this app is very helpful; app is not right now.

by Rigpasword

Beware: eBird and its companion Merlin Bird ID do not work unless there’s an internet connection. Thus, most places where one is observing birds are internet dead zones, no cell connection, and the apps are useless. I’ve found this out the hard way on my past two bird outings there was no cell service of any kind and the apps had no functionality due to lack of internet connection.

Other birding apps have full functionality with no internet such as Mitch Waite’s iBird apps. You’d think Cornell Lab of Ornithology would be smarter than this. I’d love to use the this app apps but until they fix it so it works without internet, I’ll be using other apps.

by Danielle Lev.

I’m a bird NOVICE but I figured I’d give the this app app a shot since I have tons of bird nerd friends and work in the wildlife field. eBird is surprisingly hard to use. I though a Cornell app would be state of the art, but you can’t search locations, it’s not easy to create lists/locations/trips for sightings that aren’t in your local area (if you’re documenting them later than your actual trip). It seems like a huge missing feature is to follow your fellow birder friends kind of like social media and see what birds they’re documenting/seeing to amp up the competitive nature of birding. It also seems weird that they don’t have little photos or descriptions of birds as you mark them off. I was hoping to learn as I was tracking birds I saw. As someone new to the field, eBird is not exactly making birding fun, social and competitive.

Also, seems unprofessional to have species typed in varying ways (some capitalized and not). Seems like users are able to type in their own names instead of choosing from prewtitten or standardized names.

Highly suggest major upgrades.

by DouGuru

I use this app exclusively on my phone for tracking bird sightings and keeping state county and hotspot lists. I enjoy using it overall but there are two things that bug me about it.

1) When entering a new species to my list the keyboard (apple iPhone XR) defaults to numbers and symbols, extremely frustrating and useless. Each sighting requires the extra keystroke of switching over to the alphabet. Not efficient at all.

2) Having to upload photos at a later time from a desktop or laptop seems like punishment. This is not the dark ages, why will this app not access the photos on my phone?

by Virgiliusmaro

It does what it is designed to do well(record data in the field), but by not having an option for accessing the this app maps and hotspots, it is seriously lacking. I wouldn’t mind as much if this app had a mobile version of its website, but as far as I’m aware they do not. This makes using their maps and navigating their website often very irritating.

by Jammin' Jem

I like eBird and since using it, have become addicted to counting and entering the birds I see. I like the new distance tracking feature but I’m not a huge fan of the new time tracking feature. Since the time tracking feature is a part of eBird now, I think eBird should have a pause button for instances when my group is stopping for a bathroom break or something and we aren’t focusing at those moments on counting birds but it wouldn’t make sense to submit the checklist then create a brand new one. Also, eBird (or even the website) should have a place where we can submit pictures of birds we’ve seen but we aren’t 100% sure what they are or we have no idea what they are. The experts could then weigh in with their thoughts so we can learn to identify those birds we are uncertain about and we can be sure to include them in our count the next time we see them. Sometimes I’ll come across a bird that I can’t identify and the bird books I have and the bird ID apps I use don’t help.

by Hotsandz

Great app that makes it easy and fun to submit checklists to this app. But since the iOS 11 update, I cannot use the “record track” feature. I have tried it hundreds of times, but it never works. It says: Go to settings and set location services to always. (Without iOS 11 you don’t need it on always unless you close the iOS device while you are birding). So I set it to always and it still doesn’t work. It is very frustrating!

by Jana 46

I love this app, but ever since the last update, the info in the top 100 birders for Tulsa county has not been accurate. It dropped my species count from 204 to 203. I noticed that it also dropped the species counts of several others on the top 100 list as well. I haven't checked my status in the other counties where I bird, so I don't know if there are additional errors or not. Hopefully you can address this issue and get it straightened out soon.

by Storkle P.

Longtime user, and I like some of the new features, but I am annoyed by all of the extra steps that have been added, and I don't see the reason for them. Maybe you could explain how it is an improvement to add more steps to enter the same information as before? I know it's just a few extra seconds, but it's annoying, so why? I also liked that the old versions said "Review & Submit" before you selected "yes" or "no" and entered all of the correct effort information. Now it says "Submit" on the last page before you select everything, so I forget to hit "yes" or "no" and get the dialog that pops up, so I have to click out of that. 2 more clicks! Please go back to the old way, or explain why I should give these extra steps a chance.

by Techran

I have been using the this app app for a few years now and I have always enjoyed it, though there is always room for improvement or additions. I do have to say that I absolutely LOVE the newest update which brought in the gps tracking and time tracker so that I don’t have to worry about remember how many miles of walking I did. It also helps give a more accurate account for exactly how long I was out there Birding. Something that I’d like to see in a future update is to be able to pull up my life list on eBird . I am able to see my life list by connecting this app to Birdseye, but it would be nice to have it all in one. And on the this app website itself I’d like to have some type of messenger system or forum to be able to ask birders about a bird they saw or how they saw it or even to be able to ask to go birding together. All in all I love eBird though and it is constantly improving!

by EBirder123

I love eBird and use it all the time to log in my bird sightings. I would recommend this to anyone who's birding or trying to keep track of their bird observations.

A few people have complained that when entering records, you click on a species to enter data and the keyboard defaults to numbers. This first seemed a bug to me, but now I know how that it is another way to save time, if you use it properly. If you see one European Robin, you don't type "EURO" into the search bar but "1 EURO" and then you don't hit the species box but the whole bar, and it will automatically add your count without you having to put anything in manually. This makes things much faster now that I've learned to use it.

by Kb7689212

A great app for entering checklists on your birding trips. It creates a list of expected species for the location which makes it much easier to isolate what you are seeing.

It shows statistical info comparing your listing to previous years by county, state and country which is a fun feature.

I see concerns about privacy in reviews but this app allows you to have anonymous ids if that is a concern. That is not specific to eBird.

There were problems with a recent release which broke the checklists but that seems to have been fixed on both my iOS devices. The developers respond fairly quickly.

This is a great free app although if you like it maybe consider contributing to this app to fund future development in their platform. It produces useful information to scientists at a time when bird populations are plummeting.

by Ath Man

this app mobile is a fantastic way to log the birds I am seeing in the field and regular updates adding new functionality make it more useful with each iteration. To those complaining about an additional click or two, come on...this is way better than carrying around a card and reaching for a pencil over and over. Each selection is meaningful and automation continues to be added. Can’t wait to use the distance tracking!!

by King Eider

this app is the best way to report bird sightings worldwide (with a few notable exceptions). eBird makes the end user experience much better...when it works. I’ve noticed how spoiled I’ve been with previous versions of eBird . The last couple of releases were troublesome with crashes, slow keyboard entries, and extra steps using the keyboard. With this version, the experience is back to what it used to be. I’m a happy camper again.