Avibase

What is Avibase

Avibase is an extensive database information system about all birds of the world. Managed by Denis Lepage and hosted by Bird Studies Canada, it is the ultimate utility for the traveling birder. It contains over 50 million records and provides checklists for 20,000 geographical regions. It is not an ID tool with pictures, but a taxonomic and distribution tool.

How does Avibase work

Avibase aggregates data from major taxonomic authorities (like Clements, IOC, and eBird). It functions as a massive search engine where users can query a specific country, state, or even a small island to generate a complete list of birds found there. It also acts as a translator, showing bird names in dozens of languages.

Benefits of Avibase

Its primary benefit is preparation and organization. Before traveling to a new country, birders use Avibase to print a checklist of potential species. It is also crucial for resolving taxonomic confusion, as it lists all known synonyms for a bird (e.g., if a bird is called one thing in the UK and another in the US).

Pros and Cons of Avibase

Pros

• Global Coverage: Checklists available for practically every spot on Earth.
• Taxonomic Synonyms: Solves confusion between different scientific naming systems.
• Multilingual: Provides bird names in over 100 languages.
• Customizable: Users can generate PDF checklists for field use.

Cons

• No Identification Help: No photos, sounds, or ID tips; purely a list/database.
• Outdated UI: The interface is text-heavy and looks like an older generation website.

Core Features of Avibase

Regional Checklists Generate a complete list of bird species for any country or region.

Taxonomic Comparisons Compare how different authorities (e.g., eBird vs. IOC) classify a species.

My Avibase A tool allows users to manage their own life lists and reports.

Bird Name Translator Find out what a specific bird is called in French, German, Spanish, Japanese, etc.

Use Cases of Avibase

• World Travelers: Printing a paper checklist for a trip to a remote location without internet.
• Scientific Researchers: comparing taxonomic changes over time.
• Listing Enthusiasts: Verifying if a sighting counts as a full species or a subspecies.

FAQs of Avibase

Is Avibase an app? No, it is a website, though the checklists are mobile-friendly and downloadable.

Does it have photos? Generally no; it links to other sites for media but focuses on text data.

How to use Avibase

1. Select Region: Click 'Checklists' and navigate to your destination (e.g., 'Costa Rica').
2. Choose Taxonomy: Select your preferred authority (usually eBird or Clements).
3. View/Download: View the list online or download a PDF for printing.
4. Search Species: Use the search bar to see a specific bird's global distribution.