Which cameras does it support?
Canon CR3, Nikon NEF, Sony ARW and JPEG today, except Nikon's High Efficiency raws; more raw formats are planned. Tell us yours.
Does it upload my photos?
No. Photos are never uploaded. This is everything that goes online, and when:
- First Launch
- A one-off setup download of about 351 MB, from
models.birdflow.app. - Map Tiles
- From
tiles.openfreemap.org, while you look at the map. - Place Names
- Looked up at
nominatim.openstreetmap.orgfrom a photo's location or from what you type. - Licence Activation
- When you enter or remove a licence key, at
api.polar.sh. - Update Checks
- On a Mac, at
releases.birdflow.app. On Windows, updates come through the Microsoft Store. - Species Links
- Open ebird.org or wikipedia.org in your browser, only when clicked.
- Crash Reports and Usage
- Crash reports and anonymous usage data, to PostHog at
us.i.posthog.com, us-assets.i.posthog.com, unless you tick Don't Send when the app first opens. - Nothing Else
- No account. Your photos, file names, locations and species are never sent.
Does it need an internet connection?
Once to set up and once to activate your licence. After that, for maps, place names and updates, and for crash reports and usage data if you allow them.
Which computers does it run on?
Macs with Apple silicon, and PCs running Windows 10 or 11.
Which birds can it name?
Birds anywhere in the world: over 10,000 species.
Does it change my original files?
No. Edits and exports never modify the raw file.
Does it replace Lightroom or DxO?
It hands your keepers to them, as the original file with an XMP sidecar.
How does it know which photos are sharp?
It finds every bird and draws a box around each, then judges how sharp the main bird inside its box looks, from 0 to 100, so a sharp branch never counts. The judgement comes from a model trained on a bird photographer's own sharpness grades. Below 24 the photo is flagged Blurry. On Canon, Nikon and Sony files it also reads where the camera focused and checks that the AF point falls on the bird.
How much does it cost?
$49 once, for every feature and every future update, on up to 3 computers.
Do I pay in the Microsoft Store?
No. Buy the licence on the Pricing page. One licence covers Mac and Windows computers in any mix.
What does the free trial include?
Everything, for 10 days of use. No account and no card.
Is birdflow free for bird conservation work?
Yes, for conservation organisations, people who run bird surveys, and organisers of bird races and other bird events. A free licence lasts one year. Email us who you are, the work you do, where, and a link we can check. We review every request and send a licence key if it's approved.
What counts as a day?
Each day you open birdflow. Days you don't open it don't count.
What happens after the 10 days?
Your sessions still open, and editing and export keep working. Only importing new photos needs a licence.
Can I move it to a new computer?
Yes. Deactivate it in Settings on the old computer, or in Manage Licence, then activate it on the new one.
What if I lose my licence key?
Manage Licence shows it again, with your receipts and the computers it is active on.