Intro
The Merlin Bird ID app, from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, is a free mobile tool that helps users identify birds by sound, photo, or answering simple questions about location, size, color, and behavior, leveraging vast data from eBird to provide accurate matches with detailed info, photos, and sounds, making birdwatching accessible for all levels.
Key Features
- Bird ID by Description:
Answer questions about the bird’s size, color, location, and behavior for a shortlist of potential matches. - Photo ID: Upload a photo or take a new one, and the app suggests possible species.
- Sound ID: Listens to bird songs and calls in real-time and identifies the singing birds, with support for many species in North America, Europe, and more regions.
- Digital Field Guide: Provides photos, sounds, range maps, and detailed descriptions for thousands of birds.
- Life List: Allows users to save birds they’ve identified to a personal list.
- Bird of the Day: Everyday you get a Bird of the Day. This bird is picked based on your location and time of the year, making it a fun daily challenge to go and try and find your bird!
How it Works
- Download: Get the free app for iOS or Android.
- Select Region: Download bird packs for your area.
- Identify: Use the question-based wizard, take a photo, or let Sound ID listen to the birds around you.
- Learn: Explore detailed information and media for identified birds.
Why it’s Popular
Merlin acts as an expert bird guide in your pocket, making it easy for beginners and experts to learn about local and global bird species, powered by the immense database of bird observations from birders worldwide via eBird.