Can the Camera Automatically Take Photos Instead of Videos?

Quick Answer

Not currently. The BirdSnap camera records video when triggered by motion. Still photos can only be captured manually by tapping the snapshot icon during a live stream. There is no automatic photo-only mode at this time, though BirdSnap has indicated this feature may be added in a future update.

What's Happening

When the BirdSnap camera detects motion via its PIR sensor, it records a video clip of the configured duration (default 10 seconds). This is the camera's core recording behavior and currently cannot be switched to still-photo mode. All motion-triggered recordings are video files stored in the cloud Library and/or on the memory card.

What You Can Do Instead

Manual snapshots during live view. Open the live stream in the BirdSnap app and tap the camera icon to capture a still photo at any moment. The photo is saved directly to your phone's gallery.

Pause on a good frame. In the cloud Library, play back a recorded video and pause on the frame you like. Take a screenshot of your phone screen to capture that moment as an image.

Download clips for photo extraction. Download a recorded clip to your phone's gallery, then use your phone's built-in video editor to extract a specific frame, or use any third-party video editing app to capture still frames from the footage.

About Future Updates

BirdSnap's development team has received feedback from users interested in automatic photo capture. While not available in the current app version, keep the BirdSnap app updated — new features are added regularly, and an automatic photo mode is a commonly requested addition.

To stay current: check the App Store or Google Play for BirdSnap updates regularly, or enable automatic app updates on your phone.

When to Contact Support

If you have specific workflow needs around photo capture — for example, for use in bird observation records or nature photography projects — the BirdSnap team welcomes feedback via the in-app support channel or email.

• 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.