Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab is a free education and reference app developed by Cornell Lab of Ornithology. With a user-friendly interface that guides you through questions about the size, color, and environment of your sightings, this application enables the identification of over 1,500 birds in its database.

Merlin Bird ID provides four engaging methods for bird identification. Simply provide some information about the bird you want to identify, and this tool will generate a list of potential matches. For bird watchers of all skill levels, this tool provides prompt identification assistance to enhance your knowledge of birds.

Packed with valuable features

Merlin Bird ID enables you to recognize birds by their appearance and sound. Unlike other apps, Merlin uses eBird—the world's largest database of bird sightings, sounds, and photos—as its source. Upon launching the app, you can select your preferred bird identification method by clicking on one of the following options—Start Bird ID, Get Photo ID, or Explore Birds.

Opting for Start Bird ID prompts the application to request your location, the date of your sighting, and additional details about the bird. It subsequently presents a list of birds, complete with photo descriptions and options to listen to bird songs or view further information. While the Photo ID method can be quite challenging in practice to capture a clear photo of a bird, that allows for easy recognition.

Furthermore, this platform provides an Explore Birds option for those who wish to examine or search for specific types of birds they may already be familiar with. Utilizing research data from a dedicated institution to study birds, this app boasts exceptional photos, songs, habitat maps, and descriptions. However, there is a known issue where the app occasionally crashes during the recording process and becomes unresponsive.

Simple methods for identifying birds

Merlin Bird ID is an app that helps identify over 1,500 birds by guiding users through questions about the bird's appearance and environment. The app offers four simple methods for bird identification, including Start Bird ID, Get Photo ID, and Explore Birds. It also uses eBird, a database that contains bird photos, sightings, and sounds, as its source. However, the app may occasionally crash during the recording process.