eBird

You run an MCP server that connects to the eBird API so your AI assistant can access bird observations, hotspots, and taxonomy information. This setup lets you query recent data, nearby hotspots, and taxonomy details directly through MCP-enabled clients.

How to use

Use any MCP client to connect to the eBird MCP server and issue data requests such as recent observations in a region, observations near a location, or eBird taxonomy information. You can retrieve organism observations by region, by species, or locate notable sightings and hotspots to plan birding activities. The server handles authentication with your eBird API key and returns structured results suitable for display in your assistant.

Typical usage patterns include:

• Query recent observations for a region (e.g., country or state/province)
• Get recent observations for a specific species in a region
• Fetch notable observations in a region
• Find observations near a geographic point or near hotspots
• List birding hotspots in a region or near a location
• Retrieve eBird taxonomy information and forms for species

How to install

Prerequisites you need before installing: Node.js version 14 or later and an eBird API key.

1. Ensure you have Node.js installed. If needed, install a supported version from the official Node.js site.

2. Create the MCP client configuration file and add the eBird MCP server configuration.

3. Install and run the MCP server locally using the provided commands.

# 1) Ensure Node.js is installed (v14+)
node -v
npm -v

# 2) Install the MCP server package globally (if not already installed)
npm install -g ebird-mcp-server

# 3) Run the MCP server with your API key (example path shown for config)
npx ebird-mcp-server --api-key YOUR_EBIRD_API_KEY

Configuration example for your MCP client

Add the following configuration to your MCP client to wire up the eBird MCP server. Replace YOUR_EBIRD_API_KEY with your actual eBird API key.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "ebird-api": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "ebird-mcp-server",
        "--api-key",
        "YOUR_EBIRD_API_KEY"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Testing and debug

To test the server locally, set your API key as an environment variable and run the test script. You can also enable verbose logging to diagnose issues.

export EBIRD_API_KEY=your_api_key
node test-ebird.js

# Enable debug mode when starting the server
node index.js --api-key YOUR_EBIRD_API_KEY --debug

Notes and security

Keep your eBird API key secure. Do not expose it in public scripts or configuration files. Use environment variables and secure storage when deploying in production.

Available tools

ebird_get_recent_observations

Retrieve recent bird observations in a specified region or area, with options to filter by back days, max results, detail level, and hotspot focus.

ebird_get_recent_observations_for_species

Fetch recent observations of a specific bird species within a given region, with parameters for time window, result limits, and hotspot filtering.

ebird_get_notable_observations

Get notable bird observations in a region over a specified time window, with options for detail level.

ebird_get_nearby_observations

Obtain recent observations near a geographic location defined by latitude and longitude, with distance, time window, and detail level controls.

ebird_get_nearby_notable_observations

Retrieve notable observations near a location, within a defined radius and time window.

ebird_get_nearby_observations_for_species

Get recent observations of a specific species near a location, with distance, time window, and hotspot filtering options.

ebird_get_hotspots

List birding hotspots in a region, with optional recent activity and provisional observation filters.

ebird_get_nearby_hotspots

Find hotspots near a given location within a certain distance and time window.

ebird_get_taxonomy

Fetch taxonomy information from eBird, with locale, category, and format controls.

ebird_get_taxonomy_forms

Get taxonomy forms for a specific species to understand different taxonomic classifications.