Games entertain us, engage our brains, and bring us closer together as family and friends. And what better way to do all three than with bird-themed games that delight and educate? From board games to apps, here are a few of our favorites to try with your family.
Break Out the Bird Board Games!
Give your kids a fun alternative to playing on their devices with a bird board game. Not only is it a fun family activity, but it gives everyone an opportunity to learn some bird facts and tips on caring for our feathered friends. Here are a few we recommend—you can get them on our site or in our shop at the Chirp Nature Center:
Wingspan
(Ages 10+; 1-5 players)
Available in-store at Chirp Nature Center.
Touted as one of the best board games of 2019, Wingspan has garnished a lot of attention by board game enthusiasts and bird lovers alike. With notable mentions in The New York Times and Smithsonian Magazine, Wingspan is popular for birders young and old, and at all experience levels. The game puts each player in the role of bird expert, including researchers, ornithologists, and bird watchers, with the goal of attracting birds to your habitat. The actions you take mimic those found in nature, as your “birds” collect food and build nests like they do in the wild.
Charley Harper’s Spot the Birds Board Game
(Ages 6+; 2-4 players)
Available in-store at Chirp Nature Center.
This beautifully illustrated board game features five habitats (backyard, desert, woodland, wetland, and shores) where you can track birds on your way to the Bird Sanctuary, where the first player to reach it wins. Moving around the board, you will use die to land on different species of birds, which you can keep track of on your Birder’s Journal player board. But on the way, you’ll have to avoid perils such as storms and falling in the river.
What Bird Am I?
(Ages 14+; 2+ players)
Available online or in-store at Chirp Nature Center.
Test and build on your bird knowledge with this bird identification game, which is fun for all ages. This board game includes 300 cards with colorful bird illustrations of different North American birds, as well as a pad and pencil for keeping track of the score.
Match a Pair of Birds Memory Game
(All ages; Single or multiple players)
Available online or in-store at Chirp Nature Center.
A memory game with an avian twist, Match a Pair of Birds Memory Game lets you match male and female bird pairs using vividly illustrated cards. With 25 different species of birds represented, this memory game will help birders young and old recognize birds in real life. It’s a great game to play on your own or with the entire family, and your children will be proud when they can name the birds they see out in nature!
Sibley Backyard Birds Matching Game
(Ages 4+; Single or multiple players)
Available in-store at Chirp Nature Center.
Created by ornithologist David Sibley, this classic matching game helps you identify backyard birds using 40 gorgeously illustrated cards. Mix them up, place them face down, and try to match two in this fun game for one or more players. From American robins to red-bellied woodpeckers, you’ll learn to name birds on sight with this family-friendly game.
Bird Bingo
(All ages; 2+ players)
Available online or in-store at Chirp Nature Center.
Combine your love of bingo and birds with this fun game that includes 64 illustrated tokens, each of which represent a different bird species. Play with the family and see who gets “bingo” first. And since the game contains a board and 12 separate bingo cards, it’s perfect for playing with large families and friend groups.
Little Bluebird’s Matching Game
(Ages 3+; Single or multiple players)
Available online or in-store at Chirp Nature Center.
This darling game is a joy to play for the entire family, and especially for little ones who can use their imagination while learning to care for birds at the same time. Each player must fill their colorful “nest” with as many birds as possible—the one with the most birds wins. The game includes 24 colorful animated bird cards that kids will love.
Exciting Bird-Themed Game Apps
Take these bird-themed games wherever you go, with game apps you can download and play on your phone or tablet. Here’s are some fun ones to try:
- Angry Birds 2 (Ages 7+) Android, iOS, Windows 10, Microsoft Windows
- Crossy Road (Ages 9+) Android, iOS, Windows 10, Web browser, Windows Phone, Windows 8.1, tvOS, Series 30+
- Tiny Wings iOS ( (Ages 4+)
- (Ages 4+) Android, iOS
- Square Bird (Ages 4+) Android, iOS
- Flappy Crush (Ages 12+) Android, iOS
- Flappy, Flappy! (Ages 4+) Android, iOS
- Bouncy Hills (Ages 12+) Android, iOS
Bring the Family and Come Play with Us!
Join Chirp Nature Center for a FREE family-friendly night of nature-themed games! Meet us at No Name Pizza on March 21st and April 18th from 5-7pm. Get more details here. Can’t wait to see you and your family there!
Photo credits, top to bottom: Kim Euker, BoardGameGeek, Chirp Nature Center, National Gallery of Art, Sibley Guides, Laurence King Publishing, and The Small Folk. Blog featured image courtesy of Quick and Dirty Tips.
