Kestrel: Background Bird ID
CRUZ GODAR Reference iPhoneiPadiPod touchApple Watch
Kestrel: Background Bird ID is a free Reference app for iPhone and iPad by CRUZ GODAR. Rated 5.0/5 from 5 ratings. Requires iOS 26.0.
- Rating
- 5.0
- 5 ratings
- Price
- Free
- on the App Store
- Size
- 107 MB
- Age 4+
- Updated
- Sep 5
- 2026 · v1.1
Screenshots
About Kestrel: Background Bird ID
Kestrel listens for birds in the background on your iPhone or Apple Watch so you can focus on the nature around you. It uses Cornell Lab's BirdNET model to identify birds by their songs and calls, and when it hears one you've starred in your life list or have never seen before, it notifies you. That lets you keep your focus off your phone, with confidence that you'll know when a bird you care about is nearby. All processing happens on-device, all audio is deleted immediately (i.e. within a few seconds of being recorded), and the source code is freely available.
Ratings & reviews
5.0
5 ratings
What’s new
Version 1.1 · Updated September 5, 2026
Features: - Added the ability to record and view observations for species you have already seen - Added the ability to specify the date and location for recorded observations and to edit existing observations - Added the ability to export your life list as a CSV to import to eBird/Merlin - Updated the accent color to be the same purple as the buttons - Updated Apple Watch design to use larger images Bug Fixes: - Fixed opening the map from the life list tab sometimes not moving to the correct location - Fixed tapping on the search field sometimes being difficult - Fixed workouts sometimes not saving - Fixed the BirdNET model taking up too much space
App privacy
The developer, CRUZ GODAR, reported these privacy practices to Apple.
Data Not Collected
The developer does not collect any data from this app.
Alternatives to Kestrel: Background Bird ID
Looking for apps like Kestrel: Background Bird ID? Here are 6 similar apps on the App Store. The highest rated is Common Birds Songs (5.0/5), and 5 of the 6 are free to download.
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| App | Rating | Price | Last updated | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kestrel: Background Bird ID | 5.0 / 5 (5 ratings) | Free | September 5, 2026 | |
| Birdio - Bird Radio | – | Free | Sep 17, 2026 | Compare |
| Bird Song Finder | – | Free | Sep 1, 2026 | Compare |
| Exams Schedule | – | Free | Mar 11, 2026 | Compare |
| Common Birds Songs | 5.0 / 5 (1) | 0.99 USD | Jul 19, 2026 | Compare |
| Bird Watch Identifier | – | Free | May 21, 2026 | Compare |
| Flyway Birding | – | Free | Sep 28, 2026 | Compare |