Bird identifier app: how to name the bird you just saw

How to film a bird for a good answer

• Zoom, do not chase. Most birds leave if you walk closer. Zoom in and keep the bird in the middle of the frame.
• Show the field marks. Bill shape, breast colour, wing bars and tail are what an identifier compares. A bird seen from behind or half hidden by leaves gives a weaker answer.
• Follow the movement challenge. Nature GO asks for a short camera movement during the eight seconds and checks four frames, so the bird is seen from slightly different angles.
• Check the suggestion. An identification is a hypothesis you confirm. When the picture is not clear enough, the app says so instead of guessing.

What we measured

On 24 October 2026 we ran the Nature GO identification engine on ten reference photos of common birds from Wikimedia Commons. It named nine of them to the exact species: American robin, northern cardinal, blue jay, European robin, great tit, barn swallow, mallard, red-tailed hawk and European green woodpecker. For the tenth, a male house sparrow, it returned no answer rather than a guess. This was a test on still photos, while the app works from live video, so it shows how the engine reasons, not a guaranteed accuracy.

What happens to your find

The nature dex of 151 widespread species has 42 birds, among them the house sparrow, mallard, barn swallow and European robin. Birds outside the list, such as a red-tailed hawk, go to Beyond the 151.

What it does not do

Nature GO does not identify birds by song or call, and it does not accept gallery photos or imported files: only video filmed live in the app. Identification needs an internet connection and can pause when daily analysis limits are reached. Please keep your distance from nests and never disturb a bird to get a better shot.