Raptor ID

HawkWatch International

About this app

The first raptor identification app designed for mobile devices, "HawkWatch International's Identification Guide to Raptors" puts expert hawk identification content in the palm of your hand. In this guide to North America's 34 species of diurnal raptors, you'll find nearly 1000 annotated photos, and cutting edge identification video for each species, geared toward helping you identify raptors in flight. If you're just getting started with birding, this app covers the basics; if you're already an expert hawk watcher, this app covers all the variation that can lead to identification confusion, even among the most seasoned birders.


• Developed by HawkWatch International in partnership with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology
• Comprehensive identification content created by Jerry Liguori and Brian Sullivan
• ~1000 annotated photos covering plumage, age/sex, and geographic variation

• Cutting edge ID-focused video showing each species in flight, from multiple angles, and behaviors,
including voice-over ID tips from Jerry Liguori

• Range maps with links to interactive seasonal eBird maps
• Vocalizations for each species
• 'Ask the authors' raptor ID question forum

Ratings and reviews

After a lot of early technical issues the app is finally working well. Note that it works it has great info and especially videos! Could use more vocalization tracks. Back button app exit is a bit annoying. Overall good functionality, great content, neat design.

Current update has this app working and running much smoother! There's a glitched image on each species page (top left) and back button still exits the app. Looking forward to those fixes. I'm happy to use this invaluable app again. The content is amazing!!!

Updating my earlier review. Reloaded the app after listening to the encore interview with Jerry on the ABA podcast. Now, with Android 12, app works great. Very pleased. [Probably a good app, but, 1) video doesn't work with Android 8.1, and 2) developers won't respond to help requests. Save your money...]

What's new

- Fix for missing content
- Fix for sounds not playing on Android 8
- Ability to move app to SD card