Sibley guide is also available as a phone ap. It's excellent, just like the book only on your phone.
Best pocket-sized bird identification reference book?
- Thread starter jer
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Jamie Baker
Active member
I'm old school, or old, or getting older or something like that, and nothing beats the interface of a field guide BOOK (like actual paper) in my opinion. As another person already mentioned, The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America is highly recommend. It's available as a phone app as well, but kind of pricey.
One advantage of a guidebook, even though it won't fit a breast pocket, is that it's easier to flip from page to page to compare plus there's more info on each page. Another thing I find is that the app I like best is the one I've had the most practice with, in my case the Sibleys' Western US supplemented with iBird Ultimate especially for photos. I like the Merlin as well but don't use it as much.
If you want a phone app rather than a pocket book, IMHO the Sibley Guide 2nd ed. is the best, and it's available on Android and IOS - not free though, but well worth the small outlay. You can play all the vocalizations for each species as well as look at the pictures and descriptions.
So it began with IBirdPro that a friend suggested. And then when I still couldn't figure it out and wanted an answer in the field, somebody else said Merlin - super easy just send a snap of your playback. Being a creature of habit (cause I can't keep as many details as I once could) I carried on with IBird and used Merlin as backup. Another really nifty app for Android (sorry Apple) is BirdNet that records singing for identification. I tested it against several others when a friend wanted this app for his Apple and they didn't come close to accuracy. With zero auditory memory, its really helpful since I often hear them before I can see them. It does need an internet connection. I am thinking I now need a hot spot capable car for field work. It never ends. Ever. Most expensive hobby in the world.
Your process is exactly what happens with digital stuff: No one package does what you need or lives up to the maker's claims! Yes, it does never end!
Thanks for the detail. The only sound I recognize always is the cardinal—I smile every time I hear one. Well, the crow too, I just don't smile when I hear that one. 
Capturingtheunseen.com
Well-known member
Also, BIRDNET. It lets you record a bird's song and then analyzes it for ID. It gets it right most of the time.
Ditto...Merlin
SMB
Well-known member
Merlin on the iPhone. Snap a pic of the LCD screen and load it on to Merlin for the ID. As mentioned, have to have phone connection.
If you don't have GPS tracking on your camera, snapping that picture also gives you the GPS location so you know where you took it. I am in the habit of taking at least one snap of the scenery wherever I stop so that if I need to check something or specifically want to remember a location, its there. In your photo folder, you can bring up a map and it shows you all your locations with a thumbnail of what you took.
Clive57
New member
For Europe the Collins bird guide is the best. If you use an iPhone you can also download it from the App Store.
Calson
Well-known member
I never take a book out into the field as the bird apps for my iPhone are far superior. With the apps I can see images of male and female and breeding plumage and juveniles and these are not provided in the printed books as they would be 4x as large. I find eBird to be the app I use the most followed by Merlin Bird ID. The Audubon guides for California and other state guides and the Audubon Owls guide are also useful. Song Sleuth is a great tool for recording bird songs and then identifying them. I download country or state specific guides to birds for use when traveling. None of these apps require an internet connection except to download updates from time to time.
Oz, Great tips, every one of them, especially for the memory-challenged like me!
James Kendall
New member
My "carry with me" guide is National Geographic's "Field Guide to the Birds of North America" by Jon Dunn and Jonathan Alderfer. It's in its 7th Edition, and one guide covers all of North America. Give it a look.
Seems to be overwhelming support for Merlin. I personally use iBirdPro and Sibley. I just like the interface better than Merlin. As mentioned earlier Collins for European Birds is the go to. Then there are specific apps for raptors (Raptor ID) and warblers (Warbler Guide) that are outstanding. And if you are using eBird - then BirdsEye will interface with eBird and give you information on birds you are likely to see in a specific area, and those that you haven't seen yet.