Bird watching journal template

A page for the birds you noticed. Choose room for notes, a large sketch or a quick list, add a place and date if you like, then print it for your next walk. Free, black and white, no account needed.

What would you like to record?
Which paper is in your printer?
Make it yours (optional)

After the walk

Keep the photo beside the observation in BirdingPal

  1. Start with the bird you noticed. Give it a photo, a name or species, an observation date and a location.
  2. Add the next visit to its timeline. A dated photo and a note keep the little changes together.
  3. Build a visual record of your birds. Return to a profile or make a photo collage to share; collages are part of Premium.
BirdingPal Add Bird screen with a cover photo, name, quantity, species, observation date and location
The same starting detailsDate and place sit alongside the photo.
BirdingPal bird profile with a photo, species, location, notes and a sighting log
Keep following one birdA profile holds its notes and sighting log.
BirdingPal collection screen with search, favorites and a Backyard Birds group
Find your birds againSearch and favorites keep a growing collection within reach.
Get BirdingPal on the App Store → Free for up to 3 birds · Premium for unlimited birds and collages · iPhone

What to write in a bird watching journal

Start with the date, the place and the bird you saw. If you cannot name it yet, describe its size, shape, colors, sound or behavior. A sketch or a photo can help you revisit the observation later. You can leave the species blank until you have checked a field guide or an identification app.

The two-entry notes page is for a few sightings you want to remember. The sketch page gives one bird most of the sheet. The twelve-row list is for a walk with more birds to jot down. These are layout choices: choose the one you will actually take outside.

Where this template comes from

The starting structure follows the Feathered Friends Journal activity in Illinois Birds, from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources: record a location, a time and a bird, with space for drawings and observations. Our layouts add optional count, habitat and sound prompts; they are designed here rather than copied from the activity sheet.

How to print or save a PDF

Pick A4 or US Letter above, then use Print / Save PDF. In your browser’s print dialog, select the same paper size, portrait orientation and 100% scale. Turn off browser headers and footers. The printed sheet contains your journal page; the navigation, buttons and app section stay on screen. Select more copies if you want several blank sheets.

Is this an eBird checklist?

This is a personal observation journal. It does not submit sightings, identify species or check the protocol details required by a wildlife survey. For public checklists and citizen science, use eBird. For private photos and the story of birds you follow, see BirdingPal vs eBird.

Are my entries saved?

The page title, place, date and name are used to prepare this sheet in your browser. This builder does not create a journal account or upload these fields. Print or save the sheet before you close the tab. It leaves the observations blank for you to fill in on paper.

Need help with a bird’s name? Our guide to Merlin alternatives separates identification, public checklists and personal journals.