Peterson Backyard Birds app review: find useful information on North American birds

Introduction

As any bird watcher will tell you, bird watching is a fairly serious hobby/sport. Because it is taken so seriously bird watchers need information that they can rely on to help them identify different species of birds. The Peterson Backyard Birds app is filled with 160 common birds that can be found in North America; this will help both amateur and advanced bird watchers..

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How it Can Help You

The birds you will find in this app are classified as common birds which means they are the type you will see at parks, in backyards, and out on hikes throughout North America. The app uses the Roger Tory Peterson identification system. The app of course is based on the print field guide Peterson Field Guide to Birds of North America.

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What kind of information can you expect to find within this app? You'll see range maps, illustrations, bird songs, and nest photos, all of which can be used for you to identify the bird in question. What's really cool, and also helpful, is the fact that you can compare species that are similar looking and/or sounding on one screen.

I like that when you launch the app you have the choice of using the tutorial, viewing what’s new, or just heading straight to the menu.

The tutorial is well worth checking out on your first use of the app.

Sleek and Attractive

The user interface is both sleek and attractive with all the focus laying on the birds themselves. The main menu offers the birds categorized into common species; from here you can tap on the bird to find the variations of the species. Tap on each bird to view its name and pinch to zoom in and out so you can see its features and colors.

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The index is a great way to find birds listed by name. You can sort them alphabetically, by family, or taxonomy.

When you spot a bird use this app to make notes, mark down the date, time, and place you saw it, the weather, how many you saw, and more. The app will keep track of your “Life List” of birds you’ve seen.

I really enjoy the bird songs for each bird within the app, as this is a great way to help you identify a particular bird. There is also a map to show where the bird is commonly found as well as a fact sheet.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Helps bird watchers identify common birds in North America
• Very user-friendly
• Absolutely filled with useful information about the bird (fact sheet, bird call, illustrations, nesting photos, and much more)
• Beautiful user interface that is easy to navigate

Cons

• The app is meant to identify common species so you may not find every single one in here

Final Thoughts

The Peterson Backyard Birds app is a must-have for those people who have even a passing interest in bird watching. Its beautiful design, user-friendly features, and incredible amount of information make this a wonderful tool.