Bird watching is a popular hobby in the UK, with over 15 million people enjoying spotting and identifying birds. However, correctly identifying birds by their songs and calls can be tricky for beginners. This is where bird song identifying apps come in handy! But with so many options available, it can be overwhelming to know which is the best app to use. We breakdown the top bird song identifying apps used in the UK to help you find the perfect one for your needs.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Bird Song Identifying App
When looking for the best bird song identifying app in the UK, there are a few key factors to consider:
- Accuracy of identification – The app should have a comprehensive database of UK bird songs and calls that is frequently updated. Accuracy levels of 90% and above are ideal.
- Ease of use – An intuitive and user-friendly interface allows you to quickly record, and identify songs. Automatic recognition is a useful feature.
- Audio quality – The ability to record high quality audio clips will aid identification.
- Cost – Paid apps can offer more features but good free options are also available.
- Features – Useful features like sound spectrograms, bird guides, and the ability to save recordings.
- Offline use – Apps that work offline provide reliability when internet access is limited.
By evaluating bird song identifying apps against these key criteria, you’ll be able to determine which one offers the functionality you need.
The Top 5 Bird Song Identifying Apps in the UK
After researching the many options on the market, we picked out 5 of the top-rated and most popular bird song identifying apps used in the UK:
1. Song Sleuth
Song Sleuth is developed by Wildlife Acoustics and is widely considered the best bird song identification app in the UK. Here are its key features:
- Huge library of over 450 UK bird species
- Very high identification accuracy of 95%
- Automatic recognition capability using advanced machine learning
- Detailed spectrogram analysis
- Audio clips for each species
- Save your recordings and identifications
- Recordings can be exported
- Available for iOS and Android
- Free version available with in-app purchases
With its excellent accuracy, intuitive interface, and handy features like automatic recognition, Song Sleuth is the top choice among UK birders. The free version offers limited identifications per month while the full paid version provides unlimited use.
2. ChirpOMatic
ChirpOMatic by Wildlife Acoustics is another highly rated bird song identifier. Key features include:
- Database of over 400 UK bird species
- Real-time auto recognition
- Detailed analysis with spectrogram
- High quality recordings
- Save recordings and identifications
- Access useful information on each bird
- Available for iOS and Android
- 14-day free trial then in-app purchases
Like Song Sleuth, ChirpOMatic leverages advanced machine learning for real-time bird recognition. The high quality recordings and detailed bird information make it a great choice. However, the free trial has limited identifications.
3. Larkwire
Popular with beginners, Larkwire has these notable features:
- UK bird library of over 300 species
- Straightforward matching of recordings to ideal spectrograms
- Quizzes and games to build ID skills
- High quality audio and images
- Save recordings and favorites
- Available on iOS, Android, and web
- 7-day free trial then subscription required
Larkwire’s simple visual matching approach, quizzes, and quality content make it great for learning bird songs. However, accuracy depends on the user’s skill rather than auto recognition. It’s one of the best educational bird apps in the UK.
4. Warblr
Developed by The Wildlife Trusts, Warblr has these key features:
- 300 UK bird species
- Take or upload recordings to identify
- View spectrograms
- Build your birdwatching lifelist
- Detailed bird profiles and facts
- Available on iOS and Android
- Free version with in-app purchases
Warblr is designed specifically for UK birds. While it doesn’t have auto ID capability, it has detailed bird profiles and is easy to use. The free version provides limited identifications.
5. BirdNET
BirdNET developed by researchers has these useful features:
- Over 400 UK bird species
- Real-time recognition using AI
- Upload recordings for analysis
- View spectrogram
- Save your recordings
- Available on iOS and Android
- Free
BirdNET’s AI-powered real-time recognition can identify a wide range of UK birds accurately. As a free app, it provides great capability. However, the interface is a bit more technical than other options.
Key Considerations When Choosing a Bird Song Identification App
When deciding which of the top apps is best for your needs, keep these key factors in mind:
- Accuracy – Apps like Song Sleuth and ChirpOMatic with auto recognition provide very high accuracy. For others, accuracy depends on the user’s identification skills.
- Ease of use – Intuitive interfaces like Larkwire are great for beginners. Others like BirdNET have steeper learning curves.
- Features – Consider which features like auto ID, spectrograms, quizzes, and offline access appeal to you.
- Price – Paid apps offer unlimited use and more features. But free versions provide a useful starting point.
- Audio and image quality – Closely compare the quality of bird audio clips and images.
- Species database – Check apps cover all the UK birds you want to identify.
Prioritize the factors most important for your birding. For example, if ease of use and price are critical, apps like Warblr might be the best fit. If top accuracy is essential, Song Sleuth is likely the best option.
Conclusion
Song Sleuth stands out as the top bird song identifying app in the UK thanks to its unrivaled accuracy, intuitive interface, advanced auto recognition, and handy features. However, apps like ChirpOMatic, Larkwire, Warblr, and BirdNET also offer useful capabilities.
Carefully consider the key factors like accuracy, ease of use, features, audio quality, species database, and price when choosing the best option for your needs. Trying out the free versions of apps is recommended.
Bird song identifying apps take the guesswork out of deciphering the amazing diversity of birdsong heard across the UK. With technology making it easier than ever to correctly identify bird species day or night, everyone from beginners to experts can get more out of birdwatching.
