Scientists estimate that between 10,000 and 11,000 known species of birds exist world wide, and participants in the 2026 Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) saw 8,257 of them.
That’s according to the final results of the count, a four-day community science project in ornithology conducted annually in mid-February and supported by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society.
Birdwatchers around the world count and report details of birds in the area in which they live. The data collected is submitted to eBird, and used in scientific research.
Final tally snapshots:
8,257 species of birds identified
216 countries or eBird subregions
467,696 eBird checklists
1,239,329 Saved Merlin Bird IDs (step-by-step, sound, or photo)
246,225 photos, videos, and sounds added to Macaulay Library
1,146,284 estimated global participants
435 reported community events
(These numbers could change slightly as final checklists are added and validated by data reviewers.)
The United States, had more than 1 million submissions of eBird checklists and Merlin Bird ID observations. India and Canada, the other two leading countries, also showed incredible growth in Merlin and eBird submissions.
Costa Rica, Mexico, Colombia, Spain, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and India all had 10,000 or more submissions using eBird and Merlin.
Far flung countries like Mali, Yemen, and Syria shared bird sightings in 2026.
Central and South America, along with the Caribbean Islands, are some of the fastest-growing regions where people are sharing bird observations.
You can explore graphs and data here. To explore global engagement, click on individual countries, states, provinces, or territories to see more detailed numbers.
Read the 2026 GBBC Final Results here.
Read more about birds in New York State.
Photo: Black-capped Chickadee in Canada on a birding guide (photo by Cory Ruchlin).
Source link
