Submit Your Birb
Got a great bird photo? Share it. The best submissions get featured and help build the encyclopedia, one species at a time.
Every bird photo tells a story — the heron you waited an hour for, the goldfinch that landed on your feeder, the mystery bird you finally pinned down. We'd love to see it.
Birbs is built by a global flock of bird people, and that includes you. Send us your shot. If it's a good fit, we'll feature it — and credit you, every time.
Your photo. Your name. Your story in the flock.
Why submit?
A great photo does two things at once here:
- Get featured — your image, with your credit, on the site and potentially in the Daily Birb newsletter that reaches our whole flock.
- Help build the encyclopedia — we're documenting 11,227 species, and real photos from real bird people make those pages better than any stock library could. A sharp shot of an under-photographed species is genuinely valuable.
- Be part of something honest — Birbs is built on real data and real contributions, credited openly. Your name goes on your work.
What makes a great submission
You don't need pro gear or a 600mm lens. A clear phone photo of a backyard bird can absolutely make the cut. What we're really looking for:
- A clear view of the bird — in focus, large enough in the frame that field marks (wing bars, eye rings, bill shape, colour) are visible. These are what let us confirm the ID.
- Good, natural light — soft daylight beats harsh midday glare or heavy shadow. A little patience near golden hour goes a long way.
- Tell us what it is (if you can) — your best guess at the species, plus where and roughly when you took it. Not sure? Submit anyway and say so — our community is great at IDs, and you can always use the Identify a Bird tool first.
- Your own photo — please only submit images you personally shot. Don't send screenshots, downloads, or someone else's work. (More on rights below — it matters, and we take it seriously.)
Backyard phone shots are welcome. Honest, sharp, and yours beats expensive every time.
What happens after you submit
Here's the honest version, start to finish — no vague promises:
- We review every submission by hand. Real eyes, not an algorithm dumping everything live.
- If we feature it, we credit you — by the name you give us, on the page where it appears. Want a link to your Instagram or portfolio? Add it and we'll include it.
- We may lightly crop or adjust for layout (size, straightening) — never anything that misrepresents the bird or the moment.
- If we spot an ID we think is off, we'll note it — and we welcome you correcting us, too. Getting it right matters more than being right.
Honest caveat: submitting doesn't guarantee we'll publish it. We get more wonderful photos than we can use, and some species are already well covered. A 'not this time' is never a knock on your work.
Your photo, your rights
Let's be completely clear, because this is the part that builds trust:
You keep ownership of your photo. Always. It's yours — submitting it here changes nothing about that.
Here's the plain-language summary of the licence you give us. By submitting, you grant Birbs a non-exclusive licence to display your photo on the site and in related channels (like the Daily Birb newsletter and our social posts), always shown with credit to you. 'Non-exclusive' means you're completely free to use, sell, license, or post your photo anywhere else — submitting to us never locks it up. This is a summary only: the full licence terms — including our right to resize, crop, and host the image — live in our Terms of Service, which govern.
You're confirming the photo is your own work and that you have the right to share it. If a recognisable person or private property appears, you confirm you have any permissions needed to share it — you're responsible for the rights in what you submit.
Changed your mind? Send us a note via /contact/ and we'll take it down. No fuss.
Common questions
Do I need a fancy camera?
Nope. A clear, well-lit phone photo of a backyard bird is genuinely welcome. We care about clarity and honesty far more than gear.
What if I don't know what species it is?
Submit it anyway and just say you're unsure — our flock is great at IDs. You can also run it through our Identify a Bird tool first if you'd like a head start.
Will you definitely publish my photo?
Honestly, no — we can't promise that. We hand-review everything and receive more lovely photos than we can use, and some species are already well covered. If we don't feature yours, it's no reflection on the photo.
Do I lose the rights to my photo?
No. You keep full ownership. You're granting a non-exclusive licence to display it with credit to you, which means you're still free to use or sell it anywhere else. The full licence terms are in our Terms of Service.
How will I be credited?
By the name you give us, shown on the page where your photo appears. Add a link to your Instagram or portfolio and we'll include that too.
Can I have my photo removed later?
Yes. Send us a note via /contact/ any time and we'll take it down — no questions, no hassle.