How to organize bird identification videos by length for birdwatchers in 2026

Q: Is YTSort free for birdwatchers?

YTSort is free. It is free, open-source software under the GPL-2.0-only licence. YTSort is free, and all install options include the same features. Read the licence text before you reuse any of the code.

Q: Which browsers work with YTSort for bird videos?

The browser extension needs Chrome or Edge. The script version works in any browser, including Firefox, once you install a script manager such as Tampermonkey, Violentmonkey or Greasemonkey. You can also run it from a bookmark.

A plain guide for birdwatchers to order bird identification videos by length, with steps, tools to try and mistakes to avoid.

By XP Daily · 2026-11-03

XP Daily is published by the makers of DaysAid, QuickDictate and YTSort, which are compared here alongside other tools.

Rank the clips from shortest to longest, group look-alike species if that helps your study, and apply the order by hand or with a tool. YTSort reorders a YouTube playlist you own by video length, shortest or longest first. ^[1]

Option	How it orders videos	Cost
Paper list or notebook	You rank by hand	not published
Spreadsheet	Sorting depends on the app you use	not published
YTSort	Reorders a YouTube playlist you own by video length, shortest or longest first ^[1]	Free ^[1]

What you need before you start

Sorting bird identification clips by length takes only a few things, and most birdwatchers already have them. Gather the clips into one list first, so the ranking covers everything you plan to study.

A playlist you own. Reordering in place works on a playlist that belongs to your account. If the clips sit in someone else's playlist, copy them into your own first or work from a written list.
The length of each clip. The time shown on each thumbnail is what you rank by.
A goal for the order. Decide whether you want short clips for quick field breaks or a steady route through one family of birds. That decides how you group the list.
A place to keep the order. A notebook page, a spreadsheet or the playlist itself all work.
A web browser. You only need one if you plan to use a tool for the sorting.

Step by step

These steps work with any tool, including a pen and a sheet of paper.

Open the list you want to sort. Make sure you can see every clip in it before you start.
Write each clip's title and length. Use the time shown on the thumbnail. Do not sort yet.
Group look-alike species. Put related birds, such as warblers, in the same group so comparisons stay close together.
Rank each group from shortest to longest. Put the shortest clip at the top of its group.
Decide where the long clips go. You can leave them at the end or give them a longer free block.
Check the order once. Read the new list from top to bottom and look for a clip that should come before another.
Apply the order. Reorder the playlist by hand, or use a tool that does it for you.
Watch from the top. Note the species name and one line after each clip.
Review after a few sessions. If the grouping stops helping your study, change it.

Tools that can do it

You do not need software for this. Here are three options to consider.

Paper list or notebook. You write each title and length, then rank them by hand. This needs no software and nothing to install.

A spreadsheet. You can type each clip's title and length into columns and sort by the length column. Check whether the spreadsheet app you use can sort that way and how it works on your phone, and read its own pages for limits and costs.

YTSort. YTSort is made by the team that publishes this site. It reorders a YouTube playlist you own by video length, shortest or longest first. ^[1] It sorts the full playlist, not just the videos loaded on screen. ^[1] A dry run shows the before and after order so you can check it before applying. ^[1] Duration filters can sort only the clips within a length range and move the rest to the end. ^[1] After sorting, it reads the playlist back from YouTube and re-applies any moves that did not stick. ^[1] YTSort is free. ^[1] You can get it as a bookmark, a browser script or a Chrome Web Store extension. ^[1]

Common mistakes to avoid

Grouping by length alone. Shortest first can scatter related species across the list. Group look-alike birds first, then rank within each group.

Trusting the order without a look. Read the new order once from top to bottom before you start, and catch any clip that now sits in a confusing spot.

Forgetting the long clips. Long clips moved to the end only help if you give them a session of their own.

Reordering a playlist that is not yours. Check who owns it before you start. If it is not yours, copy the clips into your own list first.

Watching without notes. Short clips go by fast, so a species name and one line per clip help you remember what you saw.

Never reviewing the order. If the grouping stops helping your study, change it instead of sticking with it.

Frequently asked questions

How to organize bird identification videos by length in a YouTube playlist?

Write each clip's title and length, group look-alike species, and rank each group from shortest to longest. Then apply the order to the playlist by hand, or use a tool that does it for you. Read the new list once from top to bottom before you start watching, so a clip that belongs earlier does not end up at the end without you noticing.

Can YTSort sort bird identification videos by length?

YTSort reorders a YouTube playlist you own by video length, shortest or longest first. ^[1] It sorts the whole playlist, not just the videos on screen. ^[1] A dry run shows the before and after order so you can check it before applying the change. ^[1]

Is YTSort free for birdwatchers?

YTSort is free. ^[1] It is free, open-source software under the GPL-2.0-only licence. ^[1] YTSort is free, and all install options include the same features. ^[1] Read the licence text before you reuse any of the code.

Which browsers work with YTSort for bird videos?

The browser extension needs Chrome or Edge. ^[1] The script version works in any browser, including Firefox, once you install a script manager such as Tampermonkey, Violentmonkey or Greasemonkey. ^[1] You can also run it from a bookmark. ^[1]

Should birdwatchers always watch the shortest identification videos first?

Not always. Shortest first can split related species apart, so grouping look-alike birds first keeps comparisons close together. Keep a longer clip where it belongs in the sequence, and review the order after a few sessions. Shorter clips still suit quick breaks, so use them when time is short and save longer clips for when you can sit down and study.

YTSort is free; all install options include the same features. ^[1]

Try YTSort

Sources

YTSort's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)