diff --git a/heracles/fields.py b/heracles/fields.py
index 1dd560c..90b1038 100644
--- a/heracles/fields.py
+++ b/heracles/fields.py
@@ -258,6 +258,7 @@ def __init__(
         lat: str,
         *,
         overdensity: bool = True,
+        nbar: float | None = None,
         randomize: bool = False,
         rng: np.random.Generator | None = None,
     ) -> None:
@@ -269,12 +270,27 @@ def __init__(
             normalize=overdensity,
             rng=rng,
         )
+        if nbar is not None:
+            self._metadata["nbar"] = nbar
 
     @property
     def overdensity(self) -> bool:
         """Flag to create overdensity maps."""
         return self.normalize
 
+    @property
+    def nbar(self) -> float | None:
+        """Mean number count."""
+        return self._metadata.get("nbar")
+
+    @nbar.setter
+    def nbar(self, nbar: float | None) -> None:
+        """Set the mean number count."""
+        if nbar is not None:
+            self._metadata["nbar"] = nbar
+        else:
+            self._metadata.pop("nbar", None)
+
     async def __call__(
         self,
         catalog: Catalog,
@@ -323,13 +339,27 @@ async def __call__(
                 p = vmap / np.sum(vmap)
             pos[:] = self.rng.multinomial(ngal, p)
 
-        # compute average number density
-        nbar = ngal / npix
+        # mean visibility (i.e. f_sky)
         if vmap is None:
             vbar = 1
         else:
             vbar = np.mean(vmap)
-            nbar /= vbar
+
+        # compute average number count from map
+        nbar = ngal / vbar / npix
+        # override with provided value, but check that it makes sense
+        if (nbar_ := self.nbar) is not None:
+            sigma_nbar = (nbar / vbar / npix) ** 0.5
+            if abs(nbar - nbar_) > 3 * sigma_nbar:
+                warnings.warn(
+                    f"The provided mean density ({nbar_:g}) differs from the "
+                    f"estimated mean density ({nbar:g}) by more than 3 sigma.",
+                )
+            nbar = nbar_
+
+        # compute bias of number counts
+        pix_area = 4 * np.pi / npix
+        bias = ngal / (4 * np.pi) * pix_area**2
 
         # compute overdensity if asked to
         if self.normalize:
@@ -338,9 +368,7 @@ async def __call__(
                 pos -= 1
             else:
                 pos -= vmap
-            bias = 4 * np.pi * vbar**2 / ngal
-        else:
-            bias = (4 * np.pi / npix) * (ngal / npix)
+            bias /= nbar**2
 
         # set metadata of array
         self.metadata_for_result(
diff --git a/tests/test_fields.py b/tests/test_fields.py
index b6f12d8..ab45940 100644
--- a/tests/test_fields.py
+++ b/tests/test_fields.py
@@ -180,6 +180,15 @@ def test_positions(nside, catalog, vmap):
         "bias": pytest.approx(bias),
     }
 
+    # compute overdensity maps with given (incorrect) nbar
+
+    mapper = Positions(nside, "ra", "dec", nbar=2 * nbar)
+    with pytest.warns(UserWarning, match="mean density"):
+        m = coroutines.run(mapper(catalog))
+
+    assert m.dtype.metadata["nbar"] == 2 * nbar
+    assert m.dtype.metadata["bias"] == pytest.approx(bias / (2 * nbar) ** 2)
+
 
 def test_scalar_field(nside, catalog):
     from heracles.fields import ScalarField