Bird Codes of the ABA and AOU
Alpha codes are the shorthand birders and banders use for a species: four letters from the common name or six from the scientific name. Bird Codes is a simple, fast lookup for every ABA and AOU code.
Why alpha codes?
In ornithology and bird watching, alpha codes are an abbreviation of a bird's common name (4 letters) or scientific name (6 letters). They show up in banding data, field notes, eBird checklists, and other data collection projects where writing out a full name is too slow.
The American Ornithologists' Union (AOU) list includes birds recorded in North America, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. The American Birding Association (ABA) list covers North America only. Bird Codes lets you search both, by code or by name, and works offline.
Examples
BAGO
Barrow's Goldeneye
4-letter common name
BUCISL
Bucephala islandica
6-letter scientific name
NOCA
Northern Cardinal
4-letter common name
In the app
Search by code or name, browse the full list, and keep it in your pocket in the field.
