Birders in Focus
BirdRank highlights the people who go into the field to document Brazil's birds. Every record adds value to the leaderboard and to the dataset.
About BirdRank
Every Bird Tells a Story
BirdRank turns bird records into rankings, maps and accessible data for people documenting birds across Brazil.
Our Mission
Each recorded bird expands the view of distribution and occurrence across Brazil. BirdRank connects birder performance with organized data for search, leaderboards and monitoring.
Data for Research
Identifying low-occurrence species is a core part of mapping birds across the country.
Community & Gamification
Leaderboards, points and achievements keep the platform active and encourage new records throughout the year.
How It Works
BirdRank turns real-world birdwatching data into an engaging experience in four simple steps.
01
Data from WikiAves
We collect photographic bird records from WikiAves, Brazil's largest birdwatching community, ensuring every observation is backed by real documentation.
02
Point Calculation
Each species earns points based on occurrence. The lower the record frequency, the more value that species has in the leaderboard.
03
Rankings & Leaderboards
Monthly and annual leaderboards showcase the most active and impactful birders, with regional breakdowns across all Brazilian states.
04
Community Engagement
Observer profiles, the low-occurrence radar and the bird of the day help people discover species, locations and new birding targets.
Scoring System
Our point system rewards birders who document species with lower record frequency. The harder a species is to find, the more value it has in the leaderboard.
🐦
Common Species
1 point
Species with a wide distribution and a high frequency of sightings.
⭐
Low-occurrence (NT/VU)
2 points
Species with fewer records and more limited presence. Recording them helps expand long-term occurrence data.
🛡️
Critical status (EN/CR)
3 points
Species with very sensitive occurrence. Each recent record has high mapping value.
Bonus for 1st Record (max +2 per month)
+1
1st Record in Brazil
First observer to record any species in the country this month
+1
1st Record in State
First observer to record any species in their state this month
Ciência Cidadã e Base de Dados
Brazil has one of the richest avifaunas in the world. By systematising observation data and rewarding the recording of species that are difficult to locate, we increase the visibility and volume of information available for technical and scientific analyses.
Advisory Databases and Recording Bodies
WikiAves
WikiAves is Brazil's largest citizen science platform for birds, providing the observational data that powers BirdRank.
ICMBio
ICMBio (Chico Mendes Institute) is the Brazilian federal agency responsible for managing protected areas and official species-related lists.
BirdLife International
BirdLife International maintains global references on bird species status and attention levels.
BirdSearch
BirdSearch is a bird search and discovery platform that gathers useful information for birders worldwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How are points calculated?
Each unique species recorded in the month is worth points based on record frequency: 1 point for common species (LC), 2 points for low-occurrence species (NT/VU), and 3 points for critical-status species (EN/CR). You can also earn bonus points: +1 for being the first observer to record any species in Brazil that month, +1 for being the first in your state, and +1 for each day you record the Bird of the Day.
What's the difference between "species" and "records"?
Species are unique birds you've photographed. Records are the total number of photos or observations. Example: photographing the same blue macaw 10 times = 1 species, 10 records. On BirdRank, points count per unique species - diversity matters more than the volume of photos of the same bird.
Why doesn't recording the same bird multiple times earn more points?
BirdRank rewards the diversity of species observed, not photo volume. Each species counts only once per month, regardless of how many photos were taken. This encourages birders to explore new habitats and seek new species.
What is the "1st Record in Brazil" bonus?
+1 bonus point for the first observer to have any species imported into the system this month. This bonus is granted at most once per observer per month - regardless of how many species you were the first to record.
Does the state bonus use where I recorded or where I live?
The bonus uses the state from your WikiAves profile (where you live), not the location of the observation. This means if you live in SP but photographed a bird in RJ, the bonus still counts for SP. Make sure your WikiAves profile has the correct state.
What's the difference between the monthly and annual ranking?
The monthly ranking considers only species recorded in the current month. The annual ranking accumulates all species throughout the year, and bonuses also accumulate: each month you were first in Brazil or in your state earns +1, and each day you recorded the Bird of the Day earns +1.
How do I appear in the ranking? Do I need an account?
No account on BirdRank is needed. You just need photos published and accepted on WikiAves. The system imports data automatically - if you're on WikiAves, you'll eventually appear here.
Where does the data come from?
Data is collected from WikiAves, Brazil's largest collaborative bird observation platform. Only verified photos (not questioned by the community) are considered. Sound-only records are not included.
When is the data updated?
Data is updated continuously throughout the month via WikiAves' recent records feed. New records typically appear on BirdRank within 24–48 hours of being published on WikiAves.
What are achievements?
Achievements are badges awarded for reaching specific milestones. Permanent achievements (e.g., photographing 100 species over time) are earned once. Monthly achievements (e.g., top 10 for the month, 1st nationally) can be earned every month. You can see any observer's achievements on their profile.
What is the Low-occurrence radar?
The Radar is an interactive map showing the most recent observations of NT (Near Threatened), VU (Vulnerable), EN (Endangered), and CR (Critically Endangered) species across Brazil. It's a tool for tracking where and when these birds are being recorded - useful for both birders and researchers.
Behind the Project
Junior Rodrigues
Developer & Birdwatcher
BirdRank was created by Junior Rodrigues as an independent project at the intersection of software development and birding. What started as a personal challenge to learn and build became a platform focused on organizing records, leaderboards and maps for birders across Brazil.
Ready to Explore?
Follow the leaderboard leaders, track low-occurrence species on the radar, and use records to discover locations, cities and new birding targets.
Support the Project
If BirdRank has been useful to you, consider making a contribution via PIX. Every bit of support helps keep the platform running and evolving.
PIX
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