Does BirdSnap Record Video or Only Photos?

Quick Answer

BirdSnap primarily records video — motion-triggered clips that are stored in the cloud Library and, if a memory card is inserted, on the card itself. Still photos can be captured manually by tapping the snapshot icon during a live stream. There is currently no automatic photo-only mode; the camera always records video when triggered by motion.

What's Happening

When the BirdSnap camera detects movement via its PIR sensor, it records a video clip of the configured duration (10 seconds by default, up to 120 seconds, or up to 3 minutes on subscription with Auto mode). This clip is uploaded to your cloud Library and/or saved to the memory card.

Still photos are a secondary feature. They are not triggered automatically — you tap the snapshot button while watching the live stream and the image is saved directly to your phone's photo gallery.

Video Recording — How It Works

Motion-triggered recording: Each time the PIR sensor detects movement, the camera records a clip. The default duration is 10 seconds. This can be extended to 15, 20, 60, or 120 seconds in Camera Settings → Motion Detection → Recording Duration.

Manual recording: You can also start a recording manually from the live stream view in the app.

Recording format: Videos are compressed using H.264/H.265 codec. Clips are stored in the cloud Library for 3 days (free) or 15 days (subscription), and continuously on the memory card if one is inserted.

Resolution: 2K (default when signal is strong) or SD. The system may automatically switch to SD during live streams if network conditions are poor.

Taking Still Photos — How It Works

During a live stream:

Step 1 — Open the BirdSnap app and tap your camera to open the live view.

Step 2 — Tap the camera/snapshot icon on the live view controls. The photo is captured instantly and saved to your phone's photo gallery.

Still photos taken this way are full-resolution frames from the live stream. They are saved locally to your phone — they do not appear in the BirdSnap app's cloud Library.

Automatic Photo Feature

Currently, the BirdSnap camera does not support automatic photo capture triggered by motion. The camera always records video when triggered. Still photos must be taken manually during a live stream. BirdSnap has indicated this feature may be added in a future app update.

When to Contact Support

If recorded videos are not appearing in your Library after confirmed motion events, see the related article on notifications without videos. If the snapshot feature is not saving to your gallery, check that BirdSnap has storage permissions in your phone's Settings → Apps → BirdSnap.

• Email: support@birdsnap.com
• Phone: +1 573-514-4826
• Live chat: Available at BirdSnap.com
• In-app chat: Tap the chat icon in the BirdSnap app
• Facebook Messenger: Message us via our official Facebook page

Our support team is available Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM U.S. Central Time.