I’ll admit that I’m biased, as this is the birding app I prefer for personal use. Firefinch gives me most of what I need out in the field. The way I bird has changed over the years, and I’m far more focused on just enjoying the experience than chasing lifers and studying birds in the finest detail.
Faansie Peacock/ Plofskaap
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September 2025
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Firefinch is the brainchild of Faansie Peacock and a few of his friends. Faansie is well-known (should we say he’s a celebrity?) in South African birding circles, and has authored multiple guides, including on Waders, LBJs, and books aimed at children.
His illustrations are very detailed, and often include at least one scene that depicts the bird in its habitat to illustrate its general demeanour, which can be vital for hard-to-ID birds like waders and LBJs.
Bird Nerd’s philosophy is that birding is for everyone and that there isn’t only one way to enjoy it. Firefinch’s approach seems to be very similar.
This is how they describe themselves in a section named “Vibe”:
"Firefinch is not a standard, quick-ID bird app; it's a celebration. A declaration of the love for birds we all share. An appreciation of the wild places and landscapes of Africa. And a fireside recap of a day spent in the bush with friends.
This is reflected throughout the app: the language is simple, there are little to no technical details, and they’ve even skipped the lengthy text descriptions that are probably the most ignored bits of information in the birding community.
Faansie Peacock and his team have done a lot to take on much older, more traditional publications in the South African birding world. Firefinch App turns our idea of what a birding app should look like on its head, allowing us to discover what it COULD look like if the right team of experts get together. I strongly recommend that you download the Lite version, and see for yourself!
Visit firefinchapp.com for more
I’m testing them all so you don’t have to.
