No matter whether you’re a fanatical birder scanning the skies for anything airborne or a fledgling nature lover spotting a colourful but unknown bird twittering on your balcony, the right birding app can transform your birding experience.
Southern Africa’s phenomenal avian diversity makes it a challenging yet rewarding birding destination. So, for those intent on broadening their knowledge of the topic, having the tools necessary to identify, inform about, and track your sightings is imperative.
Since we’re often asked to suggest the best birding apps, we’ve put together a summary for every type of birding enthusiast.
If you aren’t sure about what bird species something is, ask here on our WhatsApp group full of bird experts!:
Firefinch: The modern standard
If aesthetics are an important consideration, Firefinch is your app. Featuring stylised yet technically accurate illustrations, the task of identifying birds becomes a beautiful experience.
The app mimics a social lifestyle interface, rather than feeling like a cumbersome database. This gives it a delightfully intuitive feel.
Firefinch’s standout feature is its depth. This includes expert tips to differentiate those pesky LBJ’, and weekly “Dawn Chorus” articles to broaden your knowledge.
At R79.99/month or R849.99/annum, it is perfect for both novices and twitchers demanding both beauty and substance.
BirdPro: The tech leader
If you’re a techie-type, BirdPro’s amazing AI recognition is a game-changer. Just record a bird’s song or snap a photo, and the app suggests the species.
Furthermore, its “SmartSearch” feature lets you filter by beak shape, colour, and location. This is invaluable when trying to narrow down a sighting.
The app features over 7,000 photographs in real-world lighting. Costing around R500 annually, the app is ideal for tech-savvy birders who demand cutting-edge functionality.
Roberts Bird Guide II: The encyclopedia
For academic birders, Roberts Bird Guide 2 is peerless. Merging traditional scientific illustrations with a huge photo gallery, it includes pertinent breeding, feeding, and behavioural information.
Compared to some flashier apps, the interface can feel utilitarian and dated. However, the depth of information is unmatched.
Costing R550 for a once-off purchase, it is excellent value for those who want the most comprehensive reference material.
Sasol eBirds 5th Edition: The reliable all-rounder
This is the digital version of southern Africa’s most popular birdbook. It features clean field-guide plates that are easy to use
The app is ideal for casual to intermediate birders, representing excellent value at a once-off fee of R420. No recurring subscription, no surprise charges. Budget-conscious birders (i.e. most birders) love it.
Newman’s Birds: For beginners and nostalgics
Kenneth Newman’s amazing hand-painted artworks make this app instantly recognisable. Designed to be beginner-friendly, its unique “Bird Groups” navigation, which uses categories like “Swallows & Swifts” rather than scientific names, appeals to novices.
The app was recently updated, adding over 1,000 species and 6,000+ photos.
For quick identification, the “Smart Search” tool, by colour and region, also works offline. Costing just R399, it’s a bargain for beginners.
BirdLasser: The citizen science hub
Completely free and designed for field efficiency, BirdLasser excels for one-tap logging while out birding.
With one touch, the app records the GPS coordinates, time, and weather conditions, making it the primary tool for the South African Bird Atlas Project.
This integration automatically manages grid cells, letting you know when you enter a new area. Additionally, CSV exports let you share your sightings instantly.
Get our Best Sightings as they Come in
Merlin Bird ID: The sound specialist
Also free, this app’s killer feature is its exceptional Sound ID capability, although it is AI-based species recognition. Simply give it a photo of your bird and the location, and let the app identify it for you.
Although the southern Africa database is not as localised as either Roberts or Firefinch, it can identify multiple bird songs simultaneously. This is invaluable when viewing mixed bird parties.
The verdict
Choosing the perfect app depends on your needs and skill level.
Firefinch for beauty and depth, Roberts for academic rigour, or Sasol for reliable simplicity.
Newman’s welcomes newcomers to birding, while Birdlasser adds to citizen science, with Merlin aiding ID’s with complex sound identifications.
Of course, if all else fails, you, like many others, can download multiple apps.