Every February, birders of all ages and experience levels take part in a global birdwatching event. This year, the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) falls on February 13-16, and we at Chirp are here to get you ready! Learn how to prepare and participate, how to find more birds this year, and which apps are gamechangers. (More on that last part below.)

Merlin Bird ID

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The Merlin Bird ID app is one of the go-to’s for GBBC participants. Developed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, one of the organizations behind the GBBC, Merlin helps you identify the birds you see by photo or sound. Simply upload a photo or record a bird’s song, and it will analyze them for matches. You can also answer questions about the size, shape, colors, behaviors, and location of the bird to help identify it. While Merlin is useful for birders of all experience levels, GBBC organizers especially encourage new birders to use it as a friendly, confidence-boosting way to identify birds.

Why We Love It: Perfect for beginner birders.

Cost: Free

Download Merlin Bird ID for iPhone or Android.

eBird

A woman sits on a bench, looking down at her phone, in a park-like setting.

As the official checklist and data-submission app used by birders worldwide, eBird plays a significant role during the GBBC. The app allows users to record bird sightings right from their phone, logging species, counts, locations, and life lists with ease. Whether you’re birding deep in the woods or watching the feeders in your backyard, this app keeps your observations organized and accessible. And best of all, because eBird is one of the GBBC’s primary data platforms, all your data is automatically shared with their database—no extra steps needed.

Why We Love It: Automatically submits your sightings to the GBBC.

Cost: Free

Download eBird for iPhone or Android.

New to eBird? Read our Introduction to eBird guide.

Audubon Bird Guide

A POV view of a person's hands as they take a photo of a swan-filled body of water, with a city view in the background.

The National Audubon Society’s Audubon Bird Guide app is for those who want a digital field guide at their fingertips. With more than 800 North American bird species included, this comprehensive app is built by one of the most trusted names in birding, and it shows. Record details on your bird sightings, identify the birds you see with the help of 3,000+ photos and over eight hours of audio songs and calls. Keep life lists and get real-time sighting notifications from eBird to guide you. The newest app update features a smoother, more user-friendly design.

Why We Love It: An all-in-one digital guide to North American birds.

Cost: Free

Download Audubon Bird Guide for iPhone or Android.

Sibley Birds

A young Black woman smiles as she takes a photo with her smartphone, a large body of water in the fuzzy background.

A favorite app of the birding community, the Sibley Birds app is based on David Allen Sibley’s popular field guides. The app features rich bird illustrations, in-depth species descriptions, range maps, and a comprehensive library of bird vocalizations. A Smart Search feature lets you narrow down the birds you see by criteria such as size, color, habitat, and behavior, making identification easier. And when you’re not sure between two lookalike species, the app lets you compare the two species side by side on screen for further investigation.

Why We Love It: Expert bird illustrations for better bird identification.

Cost: $19.99

Download Sibley Birds for iPhone or Android.

Birda

A person with a scarf and coat sits on a park bench, staring down at their smartphone. Fall colors glow in the background.

A newer app that’s quickly gaining popularity, Birda blends social connection with AI technology to connect birders around the world. With AI-powered photo identification, a built-in species guide, and a lively community feed (complete with fun challenges!), Birda turns birding into an interactive, social experience. With the community’s help, users can discover new birding spots, share photos, and log sightings and notes all in one place. Blurry bird photo? No problem! Birda’s AI bird identifier tool helps you pinpoint the species with accuracy.

Why We Love It: Social, community-driven birding meets AI-powered ID tools.

Cost: Free; $49.99/year for premium

Download Birda for iPhone or Android.

Seek by iNaturalist

An older man looks contentedly at the camera, smiling, as he holds his phone, with greenery in the background.

Designed with young birders in mind, this kid-friendly app is image-based, helping you identify the birds and nature around you. Simply snap a photo to learn about the world around you. Earn badges as you discover more species, for an interactive learning tool you can take anywhere. Parents and educators love the kid-focused app design, which is user-friendly and image-driven for children of all ages (including pre-readers). Older birders also appreciate the straightforward, no-frills interface that makes it so simple to navigate.

Why We Love It: Image‑based discovery and fun badge challenges great for the young and young at heart
Cost: Free
Download Seek by iNaturalist for iPhone or Android.

Your GBBC Prep Resource List