BirdGenie™ is a breakthrough app that helps anyone accurately identify birds in the backyard, local park, or on the nature trail—all with the tap of a button! Just hold up your phone or tablet, record the bird singing, and BirdGenie™ helps you identify the species. The app’s highly developed sound identification ability and expert matching system enable bird enthusiasts to achieve an accuracy unheard of in the birding field. It’s perfect for anyone who wants to learn more about the birds around them.
BirdGenie™ includes up to two hundred vocalization types for one hundred species: literally all of the birds likely to be encountered in a backyard or local park, or on a hike, in North America at any time of the year. And the app is easy to use. Just point at a bird, and tap the screen when the bird starts singing. The app’s automatic pre-record feature ensures that you won’t miss the beginning of the song and BirdGenie’s™ patented, highly accurate expert system matches the recording to the closest species. The app’s sophisticated noise-reduction feature means that even in noisy environments, where there is conversation or traffic, you can discover what bird you’re listening to.
Beyond specifying a bird species, BirdGenie™ provides sample songs and spectrograms to compare with your own recording and to guarantee a confident match. The app also includes pictures of all plumages, information about habitat and behavior, and links to further reading. It even has 3-D models for some of the species so you can match different views of a bird. You can share your recordings, photos, and matches with friends and other users, and if you’re so inclined, you can anonymously share recordings to a scientific database to help researchers learn about birdsong variations. No internet connection is required for anything but sharing, making the program accessible everywhere.
Perfect for anyone who wants to know what birds are singing around them, BirdGenie™ takes bird identification to a whole new awesome level.
With BirdGenie™ you can:
Quickly identify most birds just by recording their songs
Look at vivid images of the bird—some in 3-D!
Listen to samples of the bird’s various songs and compare them with your recording
Keep a log of all your recordings
Share your recordings, matches, and photos with friends and family
Browse the built-in catalog to learn about local species, their other songs, their habits and diet, and much more
Use the app anywhere, as no internet connection is required!
Important features of BirdGenie™:
The matching expert system beats anything in the market today
Easy-to-use guided user interface
Effective noise-reduction system helps users make identifications in less-than-ideal environments
Complete species accounts with multiple photos for all plumage types (some with 3-D models)
Comprehensive spectrograms (voiceprints of songs)
Tom Stephenson’s articles and photos have appeared in Birding and Bird Watcher’s Digest, at Surfbirds.com, and in the Handbook of the Birds of the World. He has guided groups across the United States and Asia. Stephen Travis Pope is an award-winning composer, performer, and software engineer who develops new digital-audio processing applications. He has worked on audio analysis programs and music search engines for over a decade. Scott Whittle lives in Cape May, NJ, and has 20 years of experience as a professional photographer and educator. His images have been published in a wide range of magazines, newspapers, and books. He is a one-time New York State Big Year record holder. He and Tom Stephenson are members of the team that holds the U.S. Big Photo Day record. He is also the coauthor, with Tom Stephenson, of The Warbler Guide (Princeton).
Technical Specifications:
Requires iOS 10 or later. Compatible with all iPhones after iPhone 6 and iPad, iPad Mini, and iPod Touch.
BirdGenie™ is a trademark of Princeton University Press.
BirdGenie Positive Reviews
Glad I got this one!A+ design, attractive, easy to navigate, intuitive… What a thrill to be able to recognize some of the birds in the neighborhood! If two songs occur consecutively, a special feature makes it possible to copy/edit the recording in order to identify and store both. If a match doesn’t pop up on the first try, taking the time to answer the questions provided is a nice way to familiarize oneself with a variety of bird calls. It’s fun to impress others by saying, "Hear that funky noise? It's a Great-tailed Grackle!".A_Joy1Version: 10190403
Has promise!I really have enjoyed this app and was surprised that it also works to attract birds when I’m playing the calls! Lol! A feature I’d like to see added, is the ability to pick for myself the bird that matches. I had a bird song that I recorded that it wanted to identify as a northern mocking bird. It didn’t match the call, but when I could see the bird - it was actually a white throated sparrow. It’s calls were identical too but I had to leave it as “unmatched” even though I found the match..AmberzimmVersion: 10190403
RevolutionarySo cool! It immediately identified several birds in my yard on the first try. The instructions were helpful and it was easy to adjust and crop the recording. I’ve tried a few other apps like this one, but they didn’t work at all. I’m excited to finally have one that does..OutsideordieVersion: 10180809
Library is smallI love the idea of this app, and used it often, but for the amount of money it costs, it’s library should be more expansive. Too often I am presented with bird calls too far from what I’ve actually recorded, so I feel stunted in my learning. If more bird sounds could be added to the library, it would be great..JRagoliaVersion: 10190403
BirdGenieGreat app, easy to use and a lot of fun for someone like myself who enjoys backyard birding. Not only does it identify the birds I’m hearing, it has interesting information and additional images to help me learn more. I can tell that this app will get a lot of use by me and the family!.Marcia164Version: 10180809
Voice overThis app appears to be working well with Voice Over enabled. I look forward to being able to identify birds around me even though I am unable to see them..Joshua CoveVersion: 10190403
Figured out a mystery birdUsed the app to record a mystery song I've heard many times and found it was a cardinal a bird I've seen at the feeder many times. Great to solve that mystery.Annierose50Version: 10180809
Completely inaccessible to voiceover users who are blindUnlabeled buttons and a graphical interface. Please make your app accessible and inclusive for all by following accessibility guidelines. This design is irresponsible. I'd like my $4 back..Wogster1Version: 10190403
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BirdGenie Negative Reviews
Locks upThe ap locks up on the noise filter screen. I can adjust the noise bar, but when I click “match”, 8 out of 10 times it does not advance to the next screen. I can click the upper left arrow to move one screen back, and continue to adjust the noise filter...the ap just won’t advance forward.
On the first screen where you adjust the length of the recording, I don’t like how the sound spectrogram gets distorted. That makes it harder to visually match it up..Kb138Version: 10190403
Patronizing and uselessThis app has a lot of nice features. But its matching algorithm is awful. I recorded very clearly a white crowned sparrow song, and it offered me: cardinals, mourning doves, tanagers, wrens, etc etc. Yes, I tried all the matchers. Yes, I tried all the cropping options. Not letting users who know what they’re doing select the species removes the main feedback loop that could improve this app.
It drives me crazy to see so many universities building their own sound recording things when iNaturalist still doesn’t have app support for sound uploads nor any sound recognition capability. iNaturalist is the best wildlife identification community in the world, and it’s open source and managed by an open coalition. Contribute to it. Don’t waste time building your own half-baked siloed software. That is, if you care about enabling citizen scientists with useful tools and not just ticking a box on an accreditation form..JonathankadeVersion: 10190403
What a disappointment!!!I’m in Central Texas, surrounded by bird calls of almost every conceivable North American Species. Bird Genie doesn’t even recognize the TEE-shirt TEE-shirt call of the cardinal. I have made very clear recordings of 10 or more calls, NONE of which was matched. The one recorded just now, of the mockingbird, was quite loud and very distinct, but the sound pattern would not display on the play-back screen. Sorry, developers. Back to the drawing board. This one, which produces NONE of the advertised outcomes, is not ready for prime time. A total disappointment and a complete waste. One star. Don’t waste your time here!!!.JayMc1234Version: 10190403
Database is too smallLove the idea of this app, but the database is wayyyyy too small.
We were on vacation in central Texas and kept hearing a bird every night. I purchased this app to hopefully identify the bird. The app didn’t even come close.
After a while searching on the Audubon app, I was able to figure out that, while it sounded similar to a whip-poor-will, it was actually a chuck-wills-widow. The Audubon app had the exact sound as what I had recorded and I was delighted.
I gave two stars bc it probably works for the most common birds that most new birders may not know. Intermediate birders or those in areas that may have less common birds won’t be happy with it.
I hope they vastly improve the database or merge with Audubon or even the Merlin bird app. Those have robust databases with multiple birds and songs..BetzyBorgVersion: 10190403
Would be better if it workedRarely makes a correct match. Says user can suggest birds to check for matching songs, but I can't find any way to do this. Many times I've ID'ed the bird after the app failed to identify it by song, and found it very frustrating that I couldn't then attach the ID to the song. App would be vastly more valuable if user could do this because one could then assemble one's own bird song library..GeorgeL.Version: 10190403
Disappointed ☹️I recently bought a home on the edge of a national wildlife refuge and thought this would be a great way to help me identify all the new bird calls I was hearing; however, the software isn’t advanced enough to thoroughly quiet background noise. Additionally, it seems, to get to the optimal/green area in the recording device you have to be in the tree with the bird with no other birds around. I was so excited to identify my new “neighbors”, and all I got was disappointment ☹️.LilmissinmspVersion: 10190403
UI gets stuckUI won’t advance past the screen to raise the red line to the bottom of the bird signal. Manual UI steps for the user to find the bird sound in a graph of the sound wave is clumsy and should all be automated. I found another app that was far easier to use and worked amazingly well immediately — showing me pictures of all birds chirping around me.Bit4Version: 10190403
Good concept, poor executionSadly, it does not work. I watched the tutorial and the app is fairly easy to use. User interface is designed well. I made four separate attempts to identify four separate bird calls in South Florida. Not one resulted in an identification. Twice the app crashed on me while attempting to use the built-in feature where you provide additional information on the bird song to help the app’s algorithms find an ID..Paul HirtVersion: 10190403
Doesn’t actually work......unless all you have are robins and cardinals. Anything vague melodic is a robin and anything with repetition is a cardinal. Even testing against clean recordings of birds listed in the app from the Macaulay library gives the wrong result 90+% of the time. Needs a ton of improvement to the matching algorithms and a much wider library before it’s worth the money. App also locks up if you try to ID a second recording unless you force quit between attempts..Ld620Version: 10190403
Not one match.I should have read the reviews. I have made many recordings that were clear with no detectable noise or other birds in the recording yet it has failed to identify or match all but one. It also seems to suggest the same birds a lot of the time even though they often sound nothing like my recording. Cannot recommend it at all..SqueakywarriorVersion: 10190403
User friendly but not accurate on identifying birdsThe app is straight forward and easy to use but I feel like you have to be right on top of the bird for it to work and have no other sounds. Great app in theory but not accurate. 85% of the time I got no result when it had a clear recording..Useful planning toolVersion: 10190403
Keeps shutting down.It was a novel idea so I was anxious to try it. It worked well on the first few local and easy recordings. Then it got harder to edit the recording. Then it only got close 20% of the time. Then as soon as you tapped to end the recording it shut down and kicked me out to the home screen. I deleted the app. I don’t see that I paid anything for it or else I would be asking for a refund..DontfoolmeonceevenVersion: 10190403
Bad AppThis app records well enough, but even with editing, if your not standing right next to bird, you can’t find it. I have an excellent recording of black capped chickadee, but the app couldn’t recognize it. I had to search 15+ birds when I isolated to pitch to a sparrow sized bird. The only other low sound was way in background and it was a cardinal. I would have understood if it picked out that song and matched, but no, nothing got matched..Zimmdogg93Version: 10190403
Released long before readyI agree with others, seems intuitive, but for crying out loud, only 63 birds for eastern US?
Every one of 4 attempt to match only matched Mockingbird. Really?
Has promise, just take off the market and complete before releasing. I’m removing and will check back in a year and reload if the reviews are better..Toe703Version: 10190403
Barely worksI’m updating my review of this app after having it for over two years. It still barely works, doesn’t identify even very common and well recorded bird sounds, and crashes frequently. I would not recommend anyone pay for this app. Get something else..EntrelacVersion: 10190403
Not worth the time or moneyI was so looking forward to this. There’s this bird making a really funny noise and I wanted to know what it is. The app does not recognize it, even after many re-recordings. And then it freezes up. Probably better in a year or two..Fmaj7sus4Version: 10190403
Too Complicated- No MatchesUnfortunately this app does not work in any way one would expect from a paid app. I’ve had Bird Genie for about 2 months now. I have followed all of the directions and tutorials, and the program has yet to match a single Bird (not even a robin). Interface is complicated, with nothing to show for the work..EzeatsVersion: 10190403
Needs more songsSimply too few birds in the database to make this an effective tool at the moment - but it has real potential especially since the recording feature is more sensitive and accurate than I would have guessed..John in The 'HamVersion: 10190403
FlawedGreat intentions I’m sure, but the app needs either more work or else some updates. Don’t leave it on the App Store for sale if you don’t plan to update it. I should have looked at the reviews before I purchased. Def freezes up when you try to refine options. Ugh..BeckyMGAVersion: 10190403
Not worth the costI wish I had read the reviews before purchasing as most of them are accurate. I love the idea of the app, but the database is far too small. It couldn’t match even one of the most common birds in my area..AgreenerVersion: 10190403
No matchesLike the simple interface. Real easy to use. However, I have tried very common birds house finch and common loon. Pre recorded calls. Ambience free, crystal clear recording. App is way off. It didn’t recognize them. Not even an inch close.
Excitement before downloading Disappoint after using it once. Hope it gets better with time.
Thank you..Rango007Version: 10180907
Once cropped and noise reduction applied, goes nowhereMaybe this is an east coast centric app or it just doesn’t work. Cropped and noise reduced a steller’s jay and the dialog said match but there was no button to activate the process. Just sits there doing nothing but staring at a cropped histogram. Sad. I really hoped this wasn’t money thrown away. Guess it will be a while before a good app is available..Nature AliVersion: 10190105
DisappointedAfter about 30 attempts, I’ve two things to note. The first is that I’ve not gotten even one match. The second is that the app frequently (every third use, like clockwork) freezes so that I have to reboot the phone. I’ve reached out to the developer but have not gotten any response..Birder is unhappyVersion: 10190105
Potentially a good idea but not helpful yet.Yet to get the app to match a single call. Would be better if users confirmed calls could be added to the database to improve the app’s identification ability. They should definitely consult the makers of iNaturalist..Colt1238Version: 10190403
Mockingbird is always the Match?I’m amazed by the clarity of the recording, but I’ve never had a correct match. I know I’m recording a Carolina Wren or an Eastern Towhee and the Match is always “Mockingbird”. Pretty funny, actually!.GrayBirderVersion: 10190403
BirdGenieDo not waste your money on this app. I recorded the same bird sound over and over again and every time I got a different bird. I played the clip of the bird they said it was, and it sounded nothing like what I recorded. What a waste, and frustrating!.JaxjasVersion: 10190403
It doesn’t work.I was excited to use this app to identify birds name by song. However, it wasn’t practical because I can’t isolate birds singing in order to identify. Also, it was not easy to record with iPhone. The idea was good but not practical at all..Curiousmomof5Version: 10190403
Good idea- poor performanceThis app has great potential, but was never able to match a recording to any bird, even though I tried dozens of times. At one point it even stopped recording completely. I’m sorry I wasted my money..PutewdhilvgVersion: 10190403
Not even closeAfter a few failed attempts to ID an unknown bird, I tried this app with birds I did know. Easy ones like cardinals and robins. They wouldn’t even show up as possibilities. Almost every search results in at least one Woodpecker species too..AlternateoneVersion: 10190403
No matchEach time i get a confirmed clear recording and try to match, it gives me two birds on the other side of the country or a bird that is nothing like the one i hear.GehechyrfVersion: 10190403
Do not purchase thisNot one correct ID was found. In fact, each time I recorded a call/song it gave me 10 “matches” that were always incorrect..For the last time, noVersion: 10190403
Does not workA total waste of money. It does not pick up any sounds until you are close enough to the bird to chase it away before you have the chance to record it..Lbj35423Version: 10190403
Hasn’t worked at allDespite several attempts this app does not work. It hasn’t identified a single bird. Don’t waste your money. This app, though with good intentions, needs lots of work before it should be released. Should offer refunds..PortknoxpdVersion: 10190403
Not the bird call app you’re looking for.I don’t expect instant results. I put in the time. This app disappointed from the get. I fussed with it a bit. Figuring it was a matter of operator error, I ran a common call from the speakers on my tv. Nada. Move on..Zerostarsforyou, broVersion: 10190403
Don’t BuyThis app is horrible. I have used it for 2 Weeks. Cannot ID even the easiest bird. After numerous attempts at ID ing birds incorrectly I decided to test it with the easiest bird sound. The tufted titmouse’s Peter Peter Peter. It could not ID the sound. If I could give this a zero rating I would..VidclipVersion: 10190403
Worst EverDo not waste your money or time. This app is v difficult to use. You have to edit the recording which is lots of frustrating time then, it didn’t ID correctly!!!.Northbrook MomVersion: 10190403
Great idea awful appIf I could give it less than one star I would. Not once has it been correct! I even recorded birds I already knew to test it and it got them wrong!!! Don’t waste your time or money!.Birdbitch66Version: 10190403
WorthlessThis app is worthless. It doesn’t include half of the birds in my area. When I submit a sound clip, it makes no attempt to match it, the app just offers the same list of birds each time..5/3/20Version: 10190403
Truly terribleIt has yet to successfully match a species to a recorded call. It also freezes and crashes at the cropping screen more than half the time..OrnithoRipariaVersion: 10190105
Doesn’t work. Do not recommend.This application does not work. I have never got an accurate match. Even the potential matches have no resemblance to the bird sounds I recorded..L. HatcherVersion: 10190403
Good idea, poor executionI’ve been using the app for several days , experimenting with known and unknown species and have not gotten any correct matches..HEMSMBVersion: 10190403
Waste of moneyGreat idea, but doesn’t work. It failed to match common birdsongs recorded in my back yard. I carefully recorded songs in the quietness of my backyard, cropped the recording as instructed and the BirdGenie matches were way off..Longtime SC Fed CustomerVersion: 10190403
Doesn’t workThis app does not function as described..Nic8U4LunchVersion: 10190403
Not functioning at allUnfortunately this app is not at all with the money. It seems most of the effort went into making this app look nice and then the money ran out so it can’t really do anything. With 4 different bird sounds I got the same search results and none of them remotely matched. Not to mention the 6-8 times it crashed and closed for no reason. I’m so disappointed I wasted $5.49 plus tax and exchange..LaineyA2Version: 10190403
Doesn’t work!Literally can’t tap through the whole process - some buttons don’t work and it’s a total waste of time and money. DO NOT BUY!.Praised_by_wolvesVersion: 10190403
Terrible appDO NOT GET THIS APP. DOES NOT WORK, HUGE WASTE OF FIVE BUCKS.Justin Sider 1Version: 10190403
Great ideaGreat concept but. Never fleshed out. Limited calls in database.Pudley2Version: 10190403
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Princeton University Press
