Rebuild the database
If you move to another computer or need to replace the database, Vireo can recreate its index from the files and metadata on disk.
Works with your files and XMP metadata
A wildlife photo manager
for your existing library.
Vireo runs wildlife detection, species classification, and photo scoring on your computer. It reads photos in place and saves metadata to standard XMP sidecars.
Files and metadata
Vireo works with the library you already have.
Photo metadata is stored in standard XMP sidecars. Vireo uses SQLite to make browsing and searching fast, but the database can be rebuilt at any time by scanning your photos and sidecars.
Use it alongside other tools
Vireo reads photos in place and writes metadata that Lightroom and Darktable can read. It also connects directly to iNaturalist.
Inspect each step
The live log and pipeline inspector show model downloads, scans, predictions, background jobs, and errors as they happen.
Workflow
Import, analyze, and review
1
Add folders or import a card
Add existing photo folders without moving them, or copy a memory card into the archive location you choose.
2
Run the wildlife pipeline
Vireo locates animals, predicts species, finds duplicates, and measures sharpness, exposure, and composition on your computer.
3
Review and sync
Check the predictions, mark photos to keep or reject, and sync the results to XMP. The same library is also available through the API.
Wildlife analysis
Detection, classification, and quality scoring
Detect and classify wildlife
MegaDetector v6 locates animals, people, and vehicles in each frame. Vireo then uses BioCLIP and iNaturalist-trained models to classify more than 10,000 species. Each prediction includes a confidence score and can be corrected during review.
Measure quality around the subject
Vireo uses SAM2 masks and DINOv2 embeddings to measure the animal rather than treating the full frame as equally important. It groups related photos into bursts and encounters, then recommends KEEP, REVIEW, or REJECT based on subject-aware quality scores.
Browse and review the results
Filter by species, confidence, rating, keyword, folder, or location. You can inspect predictions and edit history, compare similar frames, and review photos with keyboard shortcuts. Original image files are not modified.
Integration and automation
Use Vireo with other tools
Vireo can import Lightroom keywords, write portable metadata, and provide library data to scripts. You can add it to a workflow without replacing the rest of your photo software.
Lightroom
Import catalog keywords
Import keyword hierarchies from .lrcat catalogs. Vireo
also writes Lightroom-compatible XMP, so both applications can work
with the same photo library.
HTTP API
Run Vireo headlessly
Use the versioned /api/v1 API without opening the
desktop interface. Scripts can search photos, inspect collections,
switch workspaces, and read library metadata.
Local processing
Photos stay on your computer
Models run locally, with no cloud upload or telemetry. The models themselves are downloaded when needed, and their progress appears in the live log.
Try Vireo with your wildlife library.
Vireo is free and open source. Your originals stay in place, and the metadata remains available outside Vireo.