On this website you can upload recordings of birdsong, listen to recordings and identify birds you hear.  You can record birdsong on a mobile phone or you may have a specialist recording device.

Here we suggest how you can start to use the site, where you can find out more information and ways to practise your skills. 

1 Find our user guides

Songthrush

You can find lots of "How To" articles on the Learn tab under User Guides.

View user guides

The articles give step by step instructions on how to use the website.

2 Learn about birdsong

Blackbird

If you are new to birds, you can learn about them in the Bird Guide on the Learn tab.

Learn about birdsong

In the bird guide you can view example sonograms and listen to audio clips for each bird species.

You could choose a few common species, such as Blackbird, Wren and Robin to learn first.

3 Create your account

Greattit

Before you can use the Upload and Identify areas of the site you need to have an account. 

Register

You will be sent an email with a link to click to confirm your registration.  If you don't see it, please check your Junk mail.

4 Try a quiz

Coaltit

Try out one of our quizzes - you could start with the common species. 

Test yourself

You can repeat the test to check your improvement.

5 Explore the Identify page

Robin

Navigate to Contribute > Identify.  You can see a few statistics and the different classify options.

Identify

You can see your own contribution to classifications and how many clips are in the system.

You might be invited to take part in our wellbeing survey here.

6 Have a go at classifying

Nuthatch

From the Contribute > Identify page choose Classify All and listen to some birdsong recordings.

How to classify

You can listen to the recordings without classifying or click on any species you recognise and save your choice(s).

You might be able to spot patterns in the sonogram to help you.

7 Make a recording

Goldcrest

On the Record page you can use your mobile phone to record around 30 seconds of birdsong.

Record page

Make sure you know the location of the recording and what the habitat is. You can upload from the same page.

8 Record outside website

Yellowhammer

Record using an app on your phone or other recording device.

How to record on smartphone

Save the file and come back to the website to upload.

8 Upload your recording

Treecreeper

Use our Upload page on the Contribute tab to create a new site and upload your recording.

How to upload a recording

You can quickly upload more clips to this site if you record them in the same place with the same recording device.