National Geographic Birds: Field Guide to North America
Update [11/27/2018]: This app is no longer available for purchase and will not work with the latest versions of Apple operating systems.
National Geographic Handheld Birds was one of the first field guide apps for the iPhone. But, from all accounts, it didn’t work well since it was a direct port from another platform. But now they’ve completely redesigned it to work with the iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch, and updated the content as well. Here’s the description from National Geographic:
National Geographic Birds is a one-stop resource for any bird enthusiast. With more than 995 species and 3,000 gorgeous illustrations of birds of North America, this app is the most comprehensive birding guide on the market. Available for iPhone and iPod touch.
From its detailed illustrations to its easy-to-use interface, this app makes spotting, identifying, and understanding birds easier than ever before.
- Check out 995 species—more than any other app—accompanied by gorgeous full-color illustrations and field-mark annotations
- Find birds in each season with more than 800 up-to-date range maps
- Quickly and easily locate species of interest with our robust search/sort/filter functionality with real-time results
- Track all of your sightings in the My Journal section by adding location details, weather descriptions, photos, notes, and more
- Start your own life list and peruse numerous lists compiled by National Geographic, including longest-distant migrants, endangered species, and species most likely to be spotted in regional hot-spots such as Cape Hattaras and Madera Canyon
- Test your birding knowledge and increase your identification skills, with custom-created quizzes, curated by the experts at National Geographic
- Learn about birding ethics and must-have gear
- View exclusive videos of bird songs and calls from the field
This app definitely has some great content, including the illustrations and range maps from the latest NatGeo print guide (sixth edition), plus many new things such as sounds, quizzes, lists, and more. It’s definitely worth the current $9.99 price, especially for those who favor the National Geographic guide. (Be on the lookout for some more details on this app in my updated iPhone Field Guide Comparison, coming soon.)
Posted by Grant McCreary on December 3rd, 2012.
When are you going to update so your app is ussable???
The app is no longer available from the app store, so it unfortunately seems like National Geographic has no plans to update the app for newer OSs.
It’s really crappy that Nat Geo (a well respected name in the industry) would let this app die and that one of the best things about it is the “life list” . . . oh well i guess I might as well die since my life lists are dead . . . worthless pos
Pretty lame. I have several years, 4 lists all evaporated. Surely National Geographic can find a tech person to update this app.
I happily used this for several years and now it is lost to me. I bought the app, I thought like a book is bought and owned, and now if I want to continue using it I have to buy it again? I have the opportunity to put my current copy onto an older iPad device that is still compatible (iPad can’t be updated). How do I transfer my book to an older, still compatible device? (sorry, I’m so disappointed, NG took my money and now has taken my book back)
Unfortunately, the situation seems to be that the app is no longer going to be updated (and is no longer for sale at all), and thus will not work on the latest versions of iOS. I’m not sure at what version it stopped working. So, as you’ve found, if you want to keep using the app it has to be on a device running an older operating system.
I only have one Apple device, so I’m not sure how you would transfer the app from one device to another. But I’m sure you could google it.
Very disappointed that this app Is no longer available. I feel you took my money and did not deliver.
Wish this app was updated. Took my money and did not deliver. Not even available for purchase.
I used the app until it stopped working. I am using something else but would like to retrieve the list I had. Is this possible?
Sorry, I’m not sure. I’ve never tried it, but if you can access the backup files for the phone, then you may be able to retrieve it. But even then, I don’t know what the format would be. If xml or json you might be in luck and it would at least be readable.
Just want to join all the others regarding the National Geographic bird app. It just disappeared when I got a new iPhone and being not too literate on technology just gave up. I think the app cost $29.00 and feel I was taken. Would, at the very least, like an explanation.
How about refunds? I’m sure nat geo made a pretty penny with this app.
What the hell all the community has been mentioning this since 2018 and still today in 2020 haven’t fix it? Shame on you Nat Geo you are as greedy as any company
I think I paid $29 for the National Geographic Bird app and then it just disappeared.
I bought the original National Geographic Bird App and it suddenly disappeared without any explanation or refund for that matter.