2024-12-24
Wrong names
Despite setting for British English the wrong primary name are used eg. Loons instead of divers
Updating
-31
#37 in Top Paid Apps > Reference
-4
#7 in Top Paid iPad Apps > Reference
-12
#56 in Top Grossing iPad Apps > Reference
iPhone Screenshots
iPad Screenshots
Description
‘It’s much more convenient than taking a big book with you...the Collins app is fantastic.’
– Chris Packham, Metro
‘The Collins Bird Guide app is destined to become a real triumph, the ultimate in field guide apps — and deservedly so.’
– BirdGuides
The Collins Bird Guide App combines world-class illustrations and comprehensive information with intuitive design to create the ultimate field guide for passionate birders and casual birdwatchers alike. The app is based on the landmark book by Lars Svensson, Killian Mullarney and Dan Zetterström, universally acknowledged as the standard European field guide. This definitive work has been reimagined for iPad and iPhone by birders for birders.
The Collins Bird Guide App provides everything you need to identify a species quickly and learn about it thoroughly. Immerse yourself in the exceptional illustrations, maps, calls and concise text. Use the powerful search filter and curated confusion lists to focus in on a species. The Collins Bird Guide App is an essential companion always to hand on your iPhone, and available to browse in full glory on your iPad.
Features include:
• 973 species covered - 843 illustrated
• 3700+ beautiful illustrations by Killian Mullarney and Dan Zetterström
• Detailed text covering habitat, range, identification and voice by Lars Svensson
• Record sightings, location and date with the listing tool
• Powerful search filter
• Intuitive design to quickly and easily swipe through species
• Curated lists of confusable species
• Over 1100 carefully selected songs and calls – many by Lars Svensson
• Select species names from 30 languages
• Expertly edited video clips for 811 species in the app (In-App Purchases)
• Available in English, Swedish, Norwegian, French and German
• Weighs nothing!
As well as the optional video library, the app incorporates British Trust for Ornithology/BirdWatch Ireland/Scottish Ornithologists' Club Bird Atlas 2007–11 mapping data as an in-app purchase, providing the most comprehensive location mapping of any bird guide app.
Find out more about the app and its creators: collinsbirdguideapp.com
natureguides.com
twitter.com/nature_guides
harpercollins.co.uk
twitter.com/harperCollinsUK
facebook.com/harperCollinsUK
The Collins Bird Guide app requires iOS 15.5 or later.
If you like the Collins Bird Guide app, don’t forget to share the app, rate it and leave a review.
What's New in Version 2.2.1
EBBA2 breeding distribution maps are now available as an in-app purchase. We have also added Hebrew names and fixed some language-related bugs.
Seller
Name
NatureGuides Ltd.
Information
Developer
Categories
Version
2.2.1
Size
1,315.7 MB
Game Center
No
VPP Device Licensing
Yes
Rating
Rated: 4+
Compatibility
iOS 15.5 or later
Devices
iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone SE, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X, iPhone XR, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPhone SE (2nd generation), iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13 Pro Max, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone SE (3rd generation), iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max, iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPhone 16, iPhone 16Plus, iPhone 16Pro, iPhone 16ProMax, iPad (5th Generation) Wi-Fi, iPad (5th Generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad (6th generation) Wi-Fi, iPad (6th generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro, iPad Pro (Cellular), iPad Pro (9.7-inch), iPad Pro (9.7-inch) (Cellular), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2nd generation), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2nd generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro (10.5-inch), iPad Pro (10.5-inch) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro (11-inch), iPad Pro (11-inch) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Air, iPad Air (Cellular), iPad Air 2, iPad Air 2 (Cellular), iPad Air (3rd generation), iPad Air (3rd generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad mini Retina, iPad mini Retina (Cellular), iPad mini 3, iPad mini 3 (Cellular), iPad mini 4, iPad mini 4 (Cellular), iPad mini (5th Generation), iPad mini (5th Generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad (7th generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro 11-inch (2nd generation), iPad Pro 11-inch (2nd generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro 12.9-inch (4th generation), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (4th generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Air (4th Generation) (Wi-Fi), iPad Air (4th Generation) (Wi-Fi + Cellular), iPad (8th generation) Wi-Fi, iPad (8th generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro 11-inch (3rd generation), iPad Pro 11-inch (3rd generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th Generation), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th Generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad (9th Generation), iPad (9th Generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad mini (6th Generation), iPad mini (6th Generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Air (5th generation), iPad Air (5th generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro 11-inch (4th generation), iPad Pro 11-inch (4th generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro 12.9-inch (6th generation), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (6th generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad (10th generation), iPad (10th generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Air 11-inch (M2) Wi-Fi, iPad Air 13-inch (M2) Wi-Fi, iPad Air 13-inch (M2) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) Wi-Fi, iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro 13-inch (M4) Wi-Fi, iPad Pro 13-inch (M4) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad MiniA17Pro, iPad MiniA17ProCellular, iPod touch (6th Generation), iPod touch (7th generation)
Languages
English, French, German, Norwegian Bokmål, Swedish
App Store: Customer Ratings
Ratings & Reviews
3.7 of 5 (123 Ratings)
App Store: Customer Reviews
2024-09-30
More convenient than a book but…
Useful to have on the phone which is much lighter than the book, but why no Cattle Egrets?
2024-08-13
Crashes
As of late, I can’t even open the application. It crashes straight away.
2024-03-25
BWP Link
After the most recent update the ability to obtain further information via a link to BWP does not work. The link takes me back to the Home Screen on my iPhone. This facility was very useful.
2024-02-29
A waste of money
I thought this app would be handy as I frequently forget to carry a bird book and it saves the extra weight in my bag. However I have been disappointed by a number of issues. To start with despite having paid for the app, many of the features are only available if you make further in app purchases.
Secondly there seems to be no recognition of mistypes which may be something as simple as assuming a birds name consists of 2 words when in reality they are linked as one. Often when you have birding and have cold hands typos occur-some suggestions would help!
My final complaint is the most frustrating- missing birds! This has been an issue on multiple occasions-today it was Common Redpoll that I found was not included-or Lesser Redpoll-these are in even my slimline basic bird guide! I have also found some birds are listed without pictures E.g Ross’ Goose-there is a generic silhouette of a swallow-this is really infuriating when I am expecting it to be useful in the field.
Overall I am not sure how a big name such as Collins is getting away with producing such a bad app!
2023-12-21
Illustrations too small
I have recently updated my app and the print and pictures are far too small. The previous version was much clearer.
Disappointed.
2023-10-14
Good but with issues
Good app when it works but has weird issues. For example, the auks section is greyed out and inaccessible. Why?
2023-09-25
Where have my lists gone!
I am signed in to iCloud but my lists are not in the app. I just get sent to download another app. I purchased this app in May and have lost everything. Everything I do produces a prompt to buy more. Please restore what I purchased.
2023-09-18
Horrible V3 update
The developpera have turned a great app to an usable app. The update to V3 is a nightmare - paid for V2, paid for the V3 update but now I’m back to using the book as this update is unusable.
2023-08-15
Text search
Only purchased the old version 4 months ago and now had to pay an extra £7.99
The text search doesn’t work correctly eg search for owl and all instances of owl within the text appear eg Wild fOWL
Try Barn Owl and BARNacle Goose appears!!
2023-08-13
Search feature not working
After paying an extortionate sum to get the latest update, the search feature does not work. After the search result returns, I can’t click through to a species description. Update: asked for and got a refund only to find that the update also totally screwed the 2nd edition. Previously it was great. Now the search is terrible, e.g. searching for “owl” returns first a Swan ?!? and other water fowl. Can’t click through from search result. Previously the species comparison was excellent, now it is hidden and when you tap “show similar” the comparison no longer includes the species of interest. I used the previous version of the 2nd edition constantly in the field, it was very helpful. PLEASE CAN I HAVE IT BACK!
2023-08-08
Update has stopped app functioning
Updatjng to the new Collins edition on an iPhone 12 Pro with the latest iOS, has meant the app no longer works correctly. Very disappointing.
2023-08-08
Latest update - can’t open bird details after search
Search for (say) sandpiper and get results.
Try to get into the bird details from the search selection and it won’t open
If you search for green sandpiper and it goes direct to the bird that’s working fine.
2023-08-07
Some major issues
The search function is not fit for purpose. Unable to click on a result to see the main entry. Also not sure about updates in terms of species distribution. Example ruddy duck greater than 100 pairs when there are prob less than 10 left after cull. I’m sure this will be a teething problem but needs sorting soon.
2023-08-07
Update removed my lists
Like other review my lists have disappeared, no forewarning.
I do not want anther app to record my sightings ,I want my lists back and within the app.
If we can get to the moon surely this can’t be too difficult
Very unhappy
2023-08-07
Search function now flawed
As with others, since the update the search results will not progress to the next stage when clicked on. This is both on iphone and ipad. Clearly this update hasn’t been fully tested, something all computer science student are taught to do when developing an app.
2023-08-06
Update has ruined this
Buggy as anything; clearly no effort gone into making this work despite the fact people pay for it
2023-08-05
The latest update is AWFUL!
It was brilliant until this last update. Now it regularly freezes, the comparisons don’t work any more (I used to use this a lot), it won’t return to the Home Screen and it’s just awful. I’ve written to them to ask how the comparisons are supposed to work now, but nothing useful came back. Call me cynical, but I can’t help but think they’ve made it awful so you buy the next edition. 🤷♀️ I just use the BWP app now.
2023-08-05
The best bird app just got better
The major update - August 23 - is great. Well worth paying for. More information. Easier to use. Just amazing to have all the info you need in your pocket.
2023-08-02
Some nice updates, but…
I like the updates (Aug 23) but please bring lists back into the app. I don’t want or need another app to do this.
2023-07-18
Additional purchases for updates
I don’t think forcing customers to pay for updates to the app is wise, especially when you have to pay for the app in the first place. Will everyone have to pay again for the next update?
2023-04-07
Bird book in my pocket
I love the fact this bird book is with me all the time. However, I do wish the naming of birds did not require me (a bit dyslexic) to get the spelling 100% right. Could they not have predicted text and cut me some slack?
2022-08-07
Works on Apple silicon too!
I have always been a huge fan of this app on the iPhone and iPad. Just upgraded my laptop to an Apple silicon model and thrilled to have it working here as well. Hope to see an upgrade to the third edition in the autumn!
2022-06-18
Problem with video pack
Nice app, used the book for a number of years, is a logical development.
However, had problems trying to download video pack 3. It gets to about 80%, jumps to 100% and then says that it can’t complete the installation. Been trying for about a year, without success. Other 2 video packs have downloaded fine. Not a space problem, still have about 150Gb capacity left.
2021-10-28
Slightly out of date
Great app but to be the ultimate field guide app it does need to keep up to date. The addition of Wilson’s Snipe for example.
2021-10-02
My go to bird app also works on M1 Macs
This is my preferred bird id book in App form, and I use if I need to check something when out and about. I am delighted to say that not only does it work on my M1 iMac, opening at what I assume is a size used on iPads, but it can go to to full screen without much loss of definition to the illustrations.
2021-06-03
Most comprehensive field guide app available
I’ve been using this app for almost 5 years. It’s an incredible tool for those of you who are not well versed in the ornithology of the U.K./Europe and North Africa. The features that help narrow down likely species in certain countries and habitats based in the info you supply from your own visual assessments will catapult your learning and is far easier than flicking through the book version.
I work as a professional ornithologist and this app is such a vital tool not only saving weight on the bulky books I used to carry but also providing a lot of the songs and calls alongside the classic Collins ID plates. If I ever need to double check anything this is always my first port of call.
Cannot recommend it enough, it’s pricey... but so is the book and this covers far more.
2021-01-28
User unfriendly
Unhelpful to people with learning disabilities who want to search for a bird but perhaps cannot spell correctly - must spell bird exactly correct for anything to come up. This really needs sorting considering other reviews and price of app.
Click birds of prey on home page to browse and says there are 47 species of BoP only 4 buzzard species appear, browsing options limited.
Only good feature is bird songs, even this is limited.
2020-12-18
Good but needs better search facility
Would be more stars if search feature was more intelligent and predictive and narrowed search as you spell. It does not like any spelling mistakes!!
2020-09-29
Pretty good but not without problems
Illustrations are the best in the business and juxtaposition of other, tricky comparison species really helpful. However, try finding geese in a hurry and where are Lesser Redpolls? If you select the broad category area for geese it starts with ducks then scrolls through Eagles and other, unrelated species before eventually arriving at geese. I gave up several times before realising I needed to continue scrolling through, which is unhelpful in the field. What makes it worse is a text search of ‘geese’ returns nothing whatsoever. Needs addressing and I’d give it five stars; as it stands I’d like to give 3.5.
2020-08-24
Update on my February review
Thanks for the small but very useful improvements. Introduction and topography diagrams now easily readable (larger font?) and distribution maps can now be enlarged.
Great!
Oh dear. With the August 2020 update, the labels on the topography diagrams in the Introduction seem to have shrunk again. Please make them bigger, or provide a zoom facility.
2020-07-16
Best guide yet
I’ve tried several bird guides. This is the most useful I have found.
The ability to compare similar species is particularly helpful.
Already a large application, but how about adding common names in Welsh where they are in fairly widespread use?
2020-07-16
When will taxonomy and Latin names be updated?
When will taxonomy and Latin names be updated?
2020-05-27
Updates
I have an update of over 1gb to download, this is the third one in as many weeks, why so many so close when there hasn’t been one for over a year?
2020-05-25
Great service from Support
The latest update for this app looked like it had hugely increased storage on my iPad mini 5. My older iPad mini 2 showed much less storage for the previous version. I contacted Support over this Bank Holiday and I got swift emails back respectfully asking if I had more video volumes on the mini 5. I checked and the mini 2 only had volume 1 downloaded - doh! Thank you Fiona for your rapid replies and advice.
BTW - Fiona says that if you ever need to delete the app then restore it from the App Store your lists will be stored in iCloud (provided you are signed in) so they won’t be lost.
2020-01-26
Great but could be better.
This is good but could be improved. I cannot find a help feature to contact anyone to get help.
There really must be an option to make the video screen full size.
A memory of previous searches would also be really useful too.
Please make video screen bigger and blackout surrounding type.
PS Rotating the device does not make the video full screen on an iPad .
2020-01-25
Great for ID, but listing function cd be better
This is a great resource for bird ID - I love the Collins Bird Guide book and this saves having to take it out with me when birding. I love the ability to compare different species. I was really excited to see it included functionality for recording sightings & holding more than 1 list but it is still very clunky. It would be so much better if it could:
- quickly add a bird sighting to more than 1 list (eg local AND UK, or Year list AND Life List) rather than having to make separate entries
- keep a tally of total species seen, not just individual sightings. At present the same bird seen twice in different locations adds it as two sightings to your total. So if you are doing eg. My #200BirdYear you have to keep a separate tally elsewhere, which is frustrating.
If the app does allow these things, then it isn’t clear how to do them - I have looked in Settings but the option isn’t there. It would be a 5 Star app if it also offered these things which some other (even free) bird listing apps have.
2019-10-21
Good but annoying
Great contents but Very frustrating when out in the field and go to open app only to find it needs a update and because of lack of 4g network in the wilds hence App is useless!!!
2018-10-28
Helpful for me, fun for my cat
I love this app, as an artist it’s useful to be able to properly identify this birds I’m drawing, and this app helps me even when luring a bird I want to see ☺️
2018-08-29
Not intuitive to use
I appreciate what this guide tries to achieve, but it’s comprehensive approach makes it as a very complicated app to use which loses any sense of being intuitive. I’m sure if you are already an expert this is not a problem, but for a casual birdwatchers it is easy to get lost.
2018-06-23
Would be More Stars but......
Not possible to restore videos purchased. App stating 2.1GB required to do so when 49GB available!
UPDATE; the fix for the above problem issued on 10 Jan 2018 hasn't worked. Same error message as before. I deleted the app and reinstalled but the app now wants to charge again for videos I have already purchased.
UPDATE; even after these "improvements" I still cannot restore the videos that I have paid for. Very frustrating. Think carefully before purchasing this App.
UPDATE JUNE 2018: Finally, the Developers of this App have provided a solution to the missing purchased videos. I thank them for that but it shouldn't have taken this long.
2018-06-07
Not great
A comprehensive set of pictures. Well designed app which is simple to use. For £14 I'd expect the full works which this app certainly doesn't give. You have to pay more to get more from the app. To add salt to the wound, a free app on bird ID gives more calls and song. The distribution maps have no key! Fairly disappointed.
2018-06-04
Still not saving life list additions
Very frustrating that it is STILL NOT saving life list additions, emailed support but very sadly no response 😖
2018-05-28
Back to its top notch self
BTO Bird atlas not working but having reported on Saturday of a bank holiday weekend, the fix came through on Monday. Very impressive...
App is back to its full usability once more and all is well. Well done Nature Guides!
2018-05-19
Great app, issue with In App Purchases
Have just downloaded this app to my iPad and IPhone. It is essentially the book with some additional features, such as being able to compare different species, bird songs and calls. Haven't yet explored all the facilities yet though!
One issue is the In App Purchases. The app comes with sample videos, presumably to tempt you to buy additional videos, which you will probably want to make the most of the app. Volume 1 is over 100 additional videos of common birds which is £5.99. I bought this but it came up with the message "not enough disk space" when I knew I had plenty.
To resolve this problem, I went to Settings and selected Restore App Purchases, the videos then downloaded.
2018-04-08
Almost there but not complete
An excellent app but the rating is kept low because of a number of essential requirements need sorting/adding. Managing lists is incredibly difficult; using and retaining previous locations does not always work (even if I delete a sighting and start again), it does not default to the taxonomical list order I set but keeps showing date order. I would also like to copy an entry between lists and what if I change my device or want to share my list between iPhone and iPad? How about sharing sightings on social media? Managing locations should be a separate menu option with a larger screen to drop the pin. Above all there are no help pages. This is a premium cost app without premium features.
2018-02-12
List problem
Great app and I have used the List feature for several years - but in the last couple of days my latest list keeps disappearing.
2018-01-15
Videos lost every IoS update
Every Apple IoS update e.g. IoS 8.01/8.01/8.02 & today 8.03, EVERYTIME it loses the in-app purchased videos which have to been downloaded again! Its gone on long enough - sort It. -2 stars for a long overdue solution for this blatantly obvious problem of an otherwise very fine product
iPhone @ iPad user same problem
Got a response today. Two YEARS after posting the review!
2017-12-13
No Lesser Redpoll?
Surely should include the Lesser Redpoll (Carduelis cabaret). Bit of a spanner in the works for being my primary bird list app :0(
2017-07-14
Great app but problems with 1.4.2
We've used this app for a couple of years now with great enthusiasm, and don't have any problems with it. We think it's good value for money, even with the in app purchases, unlike others.
But it won't update to 1.4.2 from 1.4.1! Probably doesn't matter, it still runs fine, but worrying that this is an issue. (and the Report a Problem button above doesn't seem to take you anywhere useful!).
2017-02-01
Don't use the lists!
This is an excellent app, on the whole, but I have found a bug in the latest version - you can spend a lot of time recording your sightings in the list function, only to find that they have disappeared next time you open the app. I would give it 5 stars if I hadn't wasted a whole evening making a list and then losing it.
2016-12-19
👍all is well
Well done app back up and running correctly
Videos all installed nice too see you have sorted it out quickly
Top marks