Library of sound

BirdSounds Europe app

RECOGNISING bird sounds is an essential tool in any birder’s arsenal. BirdSounds Europe, a new app available on both iOS and Android, aims to enhance birders’ knowledge of vocalisations.

Upon opening the app, the user is greeted by a simple ‘search species’ box using one of two selected languages – which initially defaults to scientific names. The obvious beauty of the app is its simplicity. It requires no flashy add-ons and menus are clean and well thought out.

It is comprehensive, currently covering 436 European bird species and including a total of 2,032 recordings, with plans to add more species in the future. Such a healthy number of recordings ensures a wide range of vocalisation types are available for many species, encompassing song, flight call, alarm call, display and those of different sexes and ages.

The audio quality strikes me as very crisp, with little to no background noise ensuring recordings are clear and free of clutter. Details attached to each recording provide additional practical information, including the location, date, time of day and author.

Users are able collate a list of favourite species for easy access later, which would undoubtedly prove useful when attempting to nail down that tricky identification while out in the field. A recent tabs menu also allows for a quick flick back and forth between a number of potential options.

In a useful touch, bird names are available in no fewer than 24 languages, making the app immediately accessible to users across the region. Species can be sorted by name, taxonomic or family order. Other setting options include a ‘Play Mode’, which allows recordings to be looped and repeated.

The app also links to a subset of bird sounds described in other publications, although all three titles currently available are from The Netherlands.

A lack of additional species information, such as range maps and habitat information, might make it difficult for a beginner to rule out outlandishly rare candidates in favour of something common, although links to Google and Wikipedia, for example, alleviate this issue somewhat.

The inclusion of subspecies would also add extra functionality to this already well-considered app, as would including recent splits such as Eastern and Western Black-eared Wheatears.

Offering very decent value for money at less than £5 with no subsequent operating costs, many users will likely find it more user-friendly than other wellknown alternatives, which is a clear selling point of the app. If you are an active birder with a smartphone, BirdSounds Europe offers a reliable in-field solution with crisp, clear recordings – things that can often prove invaluable. Sam Viles