Getting Started with BirdTalk

This guide will help you start using BirdTalk effectively. It begins with a quick reference of the most useful features and concepts, then tells you where to go to learn more.

Starting Up

BirdTalk starting screen

The First Screen

When you first open BirdTalk, you'll see the main screen with a list of checklists, if you have any.

• Use pinch-and-zoom to adjust text size for better visibility.

Audio Check

Before starting your birding session, test that BirdTalk can hear you.

• If "Start" is at the top left, tap that to turn on the recognizer.
• BirdTalk uses the phone's internal mic and speaker by default, or the optional Bluetooth headset (see Setup for headset details).
• Say Time to verify BirdTalk hears and responds with the time.
• For more audio troubleshooting, see the FAQ

BirdTalk is Listening

• When BirdTalk is started, it is listening to everything you say for commands it understands, and ignoring everything else.
• You can talk freely to others and BirdTalk ignores it.
• Pause for a second before and after speaking a BirdTalk command so the command doesn't blend into what you're saying to others.
• Whenever BirdTalk understands your command, it will speak back to let you know exactly what it is doing. For instance when you say Robin it will say back "American Robin" so you know exactly which species it is adding to your checklist.
• To turn off BirdTalk's listening, tap the "Stop" button at upper left, or say Shut down.

Summary of the Common Commands

Here is a quick list of the most common commands, that you'll use in most checklists:

• Start by saying Start checklist
• Add a bird sighting, for example say Scrub Jay
• Correct a mistaken entry by saying No, Bluebird
• Add bird with a count by saying 2 Robins
• Remove a mistaken entry by saying Scratch
• Stop by saying Stop checklist

These are covered in more detail below.

Checklist Concepts

• Once a checklist is started, successive bird entries are added as they are spoken.
• Successive entries of the same species will be totaled when the checklist is uploaded to eBird.
• You can tap the screen (or use the choose command) to select particular entries so you can then scratch or otherwise modify them.
• When the checklist is stopped, new bird entries can no longer be added.
• It is possible to modify entries in a stopped checklist. We'll cover this later in Command Reference.
• You can create and complete multiple checklists before uploading any of them to eBird. Simply say Start checklist to begin a new checklist, even if you have other completed checklists that haven't been uploaded yet.
• All checklists are saved locally on your device, even without internet connectivity. You can upload them later when you have internet access.

 

Details of the Common Commands

Location selection screen showing nearby hotspots

Starting a Checklist

Say Start checklist and BirdTalk will find your location and suggest the nearest eBird hotspot.

• BirdTalk reads back the chosen hotspot
• If you prefer a different hotspot, tap the desired hotspot on the screen, or use the Next command.
• Then say Share with one if you are birding with another person, so the eBird checklist will have the right count.

Screen for adding bird observations

Recording Birds

Here are some examples of how to record birds:

• Say Three mockingbirds
• Say One robin
• Say Scratch that to remove the last entry
• Say Two cal quail (shorthand for California Quail)
• Say Red-tailed Hawk. If you leave out the number, it just adds one.

Other Essential Commands

• To change the last entry: Say No, three
• To change species: Say No, towhee
• To stop the checklist when all done: Say Stop checklist
• See Uploading Checklists to send the checklist to eBird.

That's everything you need to use BirdTalk successfully!

Learning Other Commands

Help screen showing available commands

Tap the ? button (at the upper left of the main screen) to see a summary of BirdTalk's verbal commands.

The most useful other commands are:

• To check a count: Say How many robins
• To add one: Say One more
• To subtract one: Say One fewer
• To add a comment to a bird entry: Say Memo flycatching at the lake shore
• To check how many species in the checklist so far, say How many species

Using Shorthand Names

• For Yellow-rumped Warbler:

  • Say Yellow Rump or just Rump

• For Pacific-slope Flycatcher:

  • Say Slope

Next: See Uploading Checklists.

Or: See Command Reference for a comprehensive list of the verbal commands.