# `bird contacts create`

## Usage

```bash
bird contacts create <email> [flags]
```

## Description

Create a contact by email address.

The email is the contact's unique key in the workspace; a duplicate email or
external-id returns 409. --data keys must be contact properties you defined with
"bird email contact-properties create".

Build the request from the &lt;email> argument and flags, a JSON ContactCreateRequest body via
--body-file ("-" reads stdin), or both — an inline value overrides the matching
body field. Run --example to print a ready-to-edit body, or --dry-run to print
the resolved request without sending it.

## Examples

```bash
# print the body shape (no credentials needed)
bird contacts create --example

# the body it prints:
```

```json
{
  "email": "alice@acme.com",
  "first_name": "Alice",
  "last_name": "Anderson"
}
```

```bash
# create a contact
bird email contacts create jane@acme.com --first-name Jane

# preview the request without creating
bird email contacts create jane@acme.com --dry-run
```

## Options

#### Contact

| Name            | Description                                                                |
| --------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `--first-name`  | The contact's first name                                                   |
| `--last-name`   | The contact's last name                                                    |
| `--external-id` | Your own identifier for this contact; unique within the workspace when set |
| `--data`        | Custom property values as a JSON object, e.g. --data '{"plan":"pro"}'      |

#### Request

| Name                | Description                                                  |
| ------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------ |
| `--body-file`       | Read the JSON request body from this file; "-" reads stdin   |
| `--example`         | Print a complete example request body, then exit             |
| `--dry-run`         | Print the resolved request without sending it, then exit     |
| `--idempotency-key` | Deduplication key; a retry with the same key won't act twice |

#### Options

| Name                | Description                                      |
| ------------------- | ------------------------------------------------ |
| `--response-schema` | Print the fields this command returns, then exit |

## Related

| Name                                                          | Description                                                      |
| ------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------- |
| [`bird contacts batch`](/docs/cli/reference/contacts-batch)   | Create or update many contacts in one request, matched by email. |
| [`bird contacts delete`](/docs/cli/reference/contacts-delete) | Delete a contact                                                 |
| [`bird contacts get`](/docs/cli/reference/contacts-get)       | Get a contact                                                    |
| [`bird contacts list`](/docs/cli/reference/contacts-list)     | List contacts                                                    |
| [`bird contacts update`](/docs/cli/reference/contacts-update) | Update a contact's name, email, external-id, or custom data.     |