The Merlin Bird ID app is a free bird identification tool developed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
This fun to use app helps gardeners (and other users) identify birds by sight, sound, photos, or by answering a few simple questions about the bird they observed.
For Colorado gardeners, the Sound ID feature is especially fun during seasonal migrations when your garden may host dozens of species you never realized were there.
The app is powered by the massive eBird database and the Cornell Lab's Macaulay Library of bird photos and recordings, making it one of the most comprehensive birding apps available.
What Makes Merlin Special?
Sound ID
One of Merlin's most popular features is Sound ID. Open the app, tap "Sound ID," and let it listen. The app identifies bird songs and calls in real time, often recognizing multiple species at once and displaying their names as they sing. This feature has introduced countless people to the birds around them, even when they can't see them.
Photo ID
Take a picture or upload one from your camera roll, and Merlin will suggest possible species using artificial intelligence trained on millions of bird photos. Recent updates have improved accuracy using more than 6 million training images.
Step-by-Step Bird ID
If you don't have a photo or recording, Merlin can identify birds by asking a few questions about size, color, location, and behavior. It then compares your answers with local bird records and seasonal occurrence data.
Bird Packs for Offline Use
You can download regional bird packs, allowing you to identify birds even when hiking or traveling without cell service. These packs include photos, sounds, maps, and identification information.
Global Coverage
Merlin has expanded dramatically and can now help identify birds worldwide, covering more than 10,000 species and serving millions of users in countries around the globe. Awesome feature for travelers!
Why Gardeners Love It
A Few Limitations
Like any identification tool, Merlin is a work in progress as they endeavor to build out the database. Background noise, unusual calls, mimicking birds, and limited regional sound data can occasionally result in misidentifications. Most birders view it as an excellent learning tool rather than a replacement for field guides and observation skills.
For Colorado gardeners, the Sound ID feature is especially fun during seasonal migrations when your garden may host dozens of species you never realized were there.
The app is powered by the massive eBird database and the Cornell Lab's Macaulay Library of bird photos and recordings, making it one of the most comprehensive birding apps available.
What Makes Merlin Special?
Sound ID
One of Merlin's most popular features is Sound ID. Open the app, tap "Sound ID," and let it listen. The app identifies bird songs and calls in real time, often recognizing multiple species at once and displaying their names as they sing. This feature has introduced countless people to the birds around them, even when they can't see them.
Photo ID
Take a picture or upload one from your camera roll, and Merlin will suggest possible species using artificial intelligence trained on millions of bird photos. Recent updates have improved accuracy using more than 6 million training images.
Step-by-Step Bird ID
If you don't have a photo or recording, Merlin can identify birds by asking a few questions about size, color, location, and behavior. It then compares your answers with local bird records and seasonal occurrence data.
Bird Packs for Offline Use
You can download regional bird packs, allowing you to identify birds even when hiking or traveling without cell service. These packs include photos, sounds, maps, and identification information.
Global Coverage
Merlin has expanded dramatically and can now help identify birds worldwide, covering more than 10,000 species and serving millions of users in countries around the globe. Awesome feature for travelers!
Why Gardeners Love It
- Learn which birds are visiting your yard
- Identify migrating species during spring and fall
- Discover which plants attract specific birds
- Track hummingbirds, bluebirds, finches, and other backyard favorites
- Deepen your connection to nature while working outdoors
A Few Limitations
Like any identification tool, Merlin is a work in progress as they endeavor to build out the database. Background noise, unusual calls, mimicking birds, and limited regional sound data can occasionally result in misidentifications. Most birders view it as an excellent learning tool rather than a replacement for field guides and observation skills.
Merlin Bird ID is considered the best free birding app available. Whether you're trying to identify a mystery song in your Colorado garden, confirm a hummingbird species, or learn more about visiting birds, it puts an entire field guide in your pocket and makes bird identification easy and enjoyable.