Sizes, prices and a look inside
Birdfolio: a personalized book of every bird you've seen
A Birdfolio is a personalized hardcover, 8.5 × 11 inches, of every bird on your life list: each species beside a classic painting, with the date and place you first saw it. It's made from your eBird download, iNaturalist export or a typed list, in 3 sizes from $79 to $129, US shipping included.
How many birds are on the list?
One hardcover in three sizes. The size follows the list, and your free preview shows which one fits before you pay.
Not on sale yet: orders open November 1. Until then, you can see your own list as a book, free.
See your list as a book, free- US shipping included, to US addresses only for now. Express shipping is $30 more.
- It usually arrives in about 2–3 weeks from your order (3–4 weeks in November and December). You see your delivery dates before you pay.
- Made just for you, so there are no change-of-mind returns; a damaged or defective book is reprinted free. Shipping and Returns
- Questions? Email hello@mybirdfolio.com or read the FAQ.
Look inside
Real pages from a Birdfolio. Turn them like a book.
Turn the pages with the Previous and Next buttons, the arrow keys, or by clicking or swiping the pages.
Page 1 of 20
Front coverHermit Thrush, J. J. Audubon, 1827–38
What’s in the book
Part by part, in the order the book shows them.
The cover
A dark green hardcover with a painting from the book, the birder's name and the size of the list: here, 400 species, 1996–2026.
The first bird
Opposite the title page: the first bird on the list, with the date and place it was first seen.
A dedication
Optional: a few words of your own near the front, such as a note from a family giving the book to their mother.
A life in birds
An introduction written from the list itself: the first bird, the milestones at every hundred species, the best days.
The list in numbers
Species, checklists, states and bird families, with a chart of the list growing year by year.
Days to remember
The best day for birds, the best day for new ones, and a chart of sightings by month.
Where you have birded
A map of the states, provinces and countries on the list, shaded by species. Place names only, never exact spots.
The first of each kind
The first thrush, the first warbler, the first gull and more, each with its date and place.
Milestones
Milestones are marked in the book. Here the 300th species, a Western Tanager painted by Louis Agassiz Fuertes, fills a page.
Chapters by family
The species pages are grouped by family in field-guide order, each chapter opening with a painting. You can also order a book by date first seen or by country.
A page for every species
Each bird beside a classic painting, with the date and place it was first seen and its number on the list. This book has two birds to a page.
Paintings and photographs
Where no painting exists, a credited wildlife photograph takes its place.
The life list, in order
Every species numbered in the order it was first seen, with its date.
The back cover
Twelve small paintings from the book, and the dates the list spans.
Before you order
What people ask most. Everything else is in the FAQ.
What is a life list for birds?
A life list is every species of bird a person has ever seen. Each new species is a lifer. More in our guide: What is a life list?
I don't know their list. Can I still give a Birdfolio?
Yes: that's what gift cards are for. You don't need to know a single bird. Not sure how long their list is? The Complete card covers any list up to 1,000 species. Buy a gift card.
What if a bird on my list has no picture yet?
Your preview tells you before you order, and you choose for each bird: we find a real picture for it (your book then ships about 5 business days later), a simple drawn outline marked “Outline” in the book, or your own photo of that bird. We can find pictures for up to 25 birds per book; for more than that, choose an outline or your own photo for some of them, or write to us.
Can I choose how my book is laid out?
Yes. In your preview, choose how many birds go on a page (1, 2, 4, 6 or 9) and the order: by family (field-guide order), by date first seen or by country. Your preview offers the ones your list supports. The layout doesn't change the price.
Can I add a dedication?
Yes. You can put a name on the cover and add a dedication of up to 60 words, with a signature line, printed near the front of the book.
Can you send the book straight to someone else?
Yes. Enter their US address as the shipping address when you pay.
Can I return my book if I change my mind?
No. Every Birdfolio is made from your own list, so we can't take it back or exchange it if you change your mind. You can cancel for a full refund until your book goes to print, 6 hours after you order; your order confirmation email gives the exact time. Details: Shipping and Returns.
What is a good book for a birdwatching checklist?
A write-in life-list journal if you like writing each bird down by hand, or a personalized bird book printed from your own records, such as a Birdfolio, if you already keep your list in an app or a spreadsheet. Here are the three ways to keep a life list on paper, and who each one suits.
| What it is | Who writes the birds in | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| A write-in life-list journal | You do, by hand | Someone who likes writing things down |
| A personalized life-list poster | A poster maker, from your list | Your species names on the wall, on one sheet |
| A book printed from your own records (a Birdfolio) | We do, from your file or typed list | Someone who already keeps a list and wants each bird with its painting, date and place |
Prefer to write by hand? A journal suits you better, or try our free printable life list. Already keep your list in an app? A Birdfolio saves you the typing.