Bird Guide App

birdapp

Apple iOS Version
The “Birds of Singapore” iPhone App on Apple Store is available for free download under “NSSBirdGuide”. This is the first bird guide app for Singapore and the region

All the 375 species in the 2011 Checklist are featured, many with both sexes, juvenile and flying images. The images can be enlarged to cover the full screen by tapping on the photos. Pinching the enlarged photos will further magnified the images to show different parts of the bird. Apart from the excellent photographs, bird watchers will find the over 100 bird calls very helpful in the field. Quick searches include family views, abundance, habitats and quick text. You also can check for different groups like Raptors, similar species and compare them. An added feature allows for the listing of species for your own day, survey or census lists. Dates, time and GPS automatically appears with each entry. You can even share your sightings of individual species or lists with your friends by email or Facebook.

Many people contributed and helped to create this application. (See Acknowledgement page of the App). This App is made possible with a grant from the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) and sponsorship from Carl Zeiss Pte Ltd.

Download link: Birds of Singapore

UPDATE
Android Version
The Android “Birds of Singapore” App was officially launched on 6th December 2014 during the opening of Sungei Buloh’s extension by MOS Desmond Lee. It contains an updated list of Singapore birds (based on NSS 2013 checklist) that is not in the iOS version. NSS is again grateful to Carl Zeiss Pte Ltd for the continuation of the sponsorship as they did for the earlier iOS App.

Download link: Birds of Singapore
Alternatively, please search for “Birds of Singapore” in the Playstore. It is a free download as well.

60 thoughts on “Bird Guide App”

  1. Pingback: Identification resources for the new birders | Singapore Bird Group

    1. Alan OwYong Post author

      Thanks for using the Birds App. Yes we have plans to upgrade the present app as we have added quite a lot of new species for Singapore and adopted the new names and status of some species. Our biggest hurdle is getting funding and sponsorship for the new app. Hopefully we will get them and we will certainly try to cover all the bases.

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      2. Alan OwYong Post author

        Thanks Christian for your kind comment, glad that you find it useful and is willing to pay for it. We are looking into a server based app for where we can upgrade and make changes. As all of the contributors did not want any compensations for their photos, sound clips, text and expertise, we like to pass it on to all users as well.

        Liked by 1 person

  2. Temptress of Down

    Been using this app for a couple of years and it’s been v useful, however recently received a notification that it won’t be support by iOS on my iPad shortly. Do you have plans to update it? Thanks

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  3. Christian C. Berclaz

    Alan
    Yes it makes sense to have an updatable backend, though content should remain offline when using the apps.
    Let me know if you’re looking for beta users on ios or other help. I’ve got some experience developing apps.

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    1. Alan OwYong Post author

      Thanks for your offer. Yes the contents will always be available off line this being the aim of an app like this. Our present android bird app is server based and aviable both off line and on the Web.

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  4. Gary Agar

    I visit Singapore once a year for 2 weeks of bird watching – sorry I meant visiting family and grandchildren, I find this app. as a non-resident, indispensable and I suspect like most would pay for an upgraded version and hopefully include latest information on access / directions to developed sites since the App was produced – eg. Kranji Marshes amazing site.
    I believe, as it stands it is an invaluable aid to visiting birders (and quite amazed its at no cost)
    ps. – I was sad to see the the destruction at Bidadari

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    1. Alan OwYong Post author

      Thanks Gary. Glad you find the Bird app useful for your birding here. We will take your suggestions in when we do the upgrade hopefully soon. The app was funded by the Media Authority and sponsored by Carl Zeiss Asia. Nine of the contributing photographers writers and coordinators received any payment. The aim was to promote bird watching among our younger generation and oversea birders like yourself.

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  5. Philippe LECUYER

    Hi! I have downloaded the App and I am very happy about it. I have just a question though, I don’t see the Speckled Piculet in the checklist. And I spotted one few meters from my hotel on Pickering street, the last time I came to Singapore. Since I don’t think it is a rare bird in the area, would it possible to update the list ? Thanks anyway for the App.

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    1. Alan OwYong Post author

      Thanks Philippe for using the app. The piculet is not on our checklist as you have pointed out because it has not been recorded here in the past 50 years. You may have seen an escapee. But we would still want to note your record if you can give us the date and time of sighting.

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  8. infinityinsight

    This is the best bird app I’ve seen around. Unfortunately once I upgraded to iOS11 it couldn’t work. I think many are very appreciative of this effort and hopefully this app can be upgraded. Perhaps a crowd fund site could be set up? Please keep this app going 🙂

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      1. infinityinsight

        I’m keep track of this posting, would be happy to donate to the effort! 🙂 please keep us posted

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  10. purposed@gmail.com

    Hi Alan, I was out walking near Institute of Systems Science (in NUS), and was near the edge of the forest where I saw a huge brownish bird. It stood on the branch of a far-off tree, and then flew off into the forest. Initially I thought it is a peahen, as I couldnt see clearly with my poor eye sight. Does anyone know what kind of bird is that? Just wondering if anyone has seen such a bird before.

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  11. Joseph Taylor Mountford

    I went out cycling this morning and after returning quite early, i was confronted on my path by quite a large bird. It didn’t seem really concerned of my presence (20 feet) and kept looking around under the shrubs and scrub. The wings were deep chestnut brown and the remainder of the body a blue/black. It looks raven or crow like and made a real noise after departing.
    Any idea’s ? and do you think this is a member of a Cuckoo or Crow family..?
    Photographer with some interest in birds .. Thanx
    Nice site and must get the app.

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    1. Alan OwYong Post author

      Hi Joseph, thanks for your note. You are lucky to come across our resident Coucal. From your description is may be
      the Greater Coucal. They normally stayed close to forest and edges and have a booming call.
      The very similiar but smaller Lesser Coucal prefers more open grasslands.
      May I know the location where it was seen?

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      1. Joseph

        Sure, it was in the back of Chancery Lane. I hear it most mornings and sometimes in the evening. Approximately half way down towards the Chinese School which is quite green..
        Hope that helps..

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  14. MarkJ

    Hi
    I can’t download the Android app to my phone. I get an error “unable to find item in play store”. Also cannot find it by searching play store either. Is it still available? Maybe it is restricted by region? (I am UK based but visiting next week on work, app sounds ideal for some casual birding.)
    Mark

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  16. Brian Powell

    Hi Alan,
    Having got back to Singapore, I have a new phone and downloaded the app which I have used before. I was disappointed to find that lots of the pictures are placed with the wrong bird description e.g. Dollarbird picture for hornbill, wagtail picture for crimson sunbird etc.
    Is this a known issue? Has something gone wrong with the install on my phone?
    As of now, it is OK to use for keeping a list of birds I know, but useless for checking bird ID in the field.
    Thanks for looking into this
    Brian

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    1. Alan OwYong Post author

      Hi Brian, we have to upgrade the app as it was not compatible with the new OS. We decided to include the 24 new species that were added into the checklist since 2012. Unfortunately the sequence was disrupted. We have since corrected this and the app will be relaunched by the end of the week or next week. We will be making the announcement of the relaunch on NSS web site

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  17. Brian Powell

    Hi again, Alan. I just downloaded an update for the app on my iphone, but the pictures still do not correspond to the correct bird names on many species.
    Another issue I have noted is that if I try to list a sighting and try to specify whether it is male or female, when I click on the M, the app freezes and I need to restart it.
    Whilst on the topic of listing the gender of bird sightings, I would wish that there were an option for ‘Unknown’ on the gender since there are so many species where one cannot tell which gender one has seen.
    Thanks a lot for the work you are doing to improve this great app.
    Yours
    Brian

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    1. Brian Powell

      Dear Alan,
      Thanks for this. I was able to get it working now. It is great.
      However, it still hangs when I try to change a listing from the default M in the gender box.
      Yours
      Brian

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  18. Dennis

    Thanks for the great app. Excellent field guide !!! Unfortunately it stops working when my Samsung phone forced an OS upgrade to Android 8.0.0. Hope to have an upgrade soon. Keep up the good works!

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      1. EK

        Hi, Alan,
        I deleted and reinstall the 2016 Android version but when I start the app, it “crashed”. My Android version is 9 and MIUI 10.4.2. I also encountered the same issue on my ipad on IOS 12.4.1. Any suggestions ? Thank you.

        Regards,
        EK

        PS. Recently had my first birding experience in Sri Lanka, now residing in PJ and interested in exploring birds in Singapore and Malaysia.

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  19. CHNG ENG KEONG

    Hi, Alan,
    i downloaded the Latest birds of singapore on Ipad and android.
    It ok for ipad, but not android, it showed Start screen with loading at the bottom and crashed. Any idea why ?

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  20. DerSniper

    A family of 2 adults and 4 juveniles Blue-tailed Bee Eaters have left its nesting site at Woodlands since their return from the north on Oct 15, 2020. This is the fifth year I had been monitoring them through my dining room window since Dec 20, 2016 with a single adult with distinctive left wing defect, a spine that sticks out. Their actual nesting site will not be review because it seems to be taken over by a flock of 6 adults 4 juveniles Blue-throated Bee Eaters after their recent departure.
    Other types of birds were also detected here including raptors like a pair of Oriental Honey Buzzard and Grey-faced Buzzard mixed, that came here Jan 15, 2020; Mar 9, 2020; Dec 1, 2020 and recently Mar 15, 2021 hunting for smaller birds.

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    1. Alan OwYong Post author

      Thank you for your records. Yours is the first record of nesting Blue-tailed Bee-eaters in Singapore and we would very much like to have this record. Will appreciate if you can share some photos of their nesting and fledglings with us. You can email to alan.owyong@gmail.com. thanks

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