Thayer Birding Software
Peter W. Thayer, founder of Thayer Birding Software made an amazing, generous offer: his software is free to everyone! But the website is no longer accessible. If you are interested in installing the program, please contact Valerie Barnes.
Note: This is the software Conococheague Audubon Society uses at our annual Beginning Birders’ Workshop. In addition to the quiz feature we use, information about each species includes classification, identification tips, sounds, habitat and behavior, range map, abundance maps, photos and videos, similar birds, related birds, and links to on-line references. The package also provides excerpts from “The Birder’s Handbook” by Paul R. Ehrlich, David S. Dobkin, and Darryl Wheye.
Other Birding Field Guides and Apps
There are many other programs to help birders. Many are free! Here are a few options:
Field Guides and Identification:
- Audubon Field Guide: North America
- iBird Pro Guide to Birds app
- Merlin Bird ID app
- National Geographic Birds
- Peterson’s Birds of North America
- Sibley Guide to Birds of Eastern North America
- Many other options!
- Guides tailored to bird families (e.g., Raptors, Shorebirds)
Bird Song:
- BirdNet
- Song Sleuth
- Larkwire
- ChirpOMatic
- Bird Song ID
- (and most of the ID apps)
Recording Checklists and Finding Birds
- eBird
- BirdsEye Bird Finding Guide
- Bird Journal