Merlin Bird ID

Merlin Bird ID

Merlin Bird ID is a free bird identification app created by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. It helps identify over 400 North American bird species by asking users a series of questions about the bird's appearance and sounds.
Merlin Bird ID screenshot

Merlin Bird ID: Free Bird Identification App

Identify over 400 North American bird species with Merlin Bird ID, a free app created by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, asking users questions about bird appearance and sounds.

What is Merlin Bird ID?

Merlin Bird ID is a free mobile app developed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology to help identify birds. It uses a series of simple questions about the bird you saw or heard along with location, date, and time to provide a list of possible matches. Merlin currently covers over 400 species of North American birds.

The app asks you questions like the bird's size, main color, beak shape, etc. As you answer, it narrows down the possibilities until providing you with a list of birds that match your description. Each bird profile includes photos, audio recordings of songs/calls, and helpful ID tips. An offline mode is available for identifying birds without an internet connection.

Key features of Merlin Bird ID include:

  • Intuitive step-by-step bird identification quiz
  • Photos, audio clips, and ID tips for over 400 North American species
  • Personalized results based on location, date and time
  • Ability to browse through full list of species
  • Offline access once species packs are downloaded

Merlin Bird ID is free to download and use. It's available for iOS and Android mobile devices. The app received the 2016 Best Mobile App award from the Wildlife Society. It's a handy tool for all birding enthusiasts looking to improve their bird identification skills.

Merlin Bird ID Features

Features

  1. Identify over 400 North American bird species
  2. Ask users a series of questions about the bird's appearance and sounds
  3. Provides information on bird identification, habitat, and behavior
  4. Includes a bird photo gallery and audio recordings of bird songs and calls
  5. Offline access to bird data
  6. Ability to save observations and share them with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Pricing

  • Free

Pros

Free to use

Comprehensive bird identification database

Easy-to-use interface

Developed by the respected Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Offline access to bird data

Cons

Limited to North American bird species

May not be as detailed or accurate as some paid bird identification apps

Requires internet connection for some features

Reviews & Ratings

Login to Review
No reviews yet

Be the first to share your experience with Merlin Bird ID!

Login to Review

The Best Merlin Bird ID Alternatives

Top Education & Reference and Science & Nature and other similar apps like Merlin Bird ID

Here are some alternatives to Merlin Bird ID:

Suggest an alternative ❐

Audubon Bird Guide icon

Audubon Bird Guide

The Audubon Bird Guide is a comprehensive mobile application for identifying and learning about birds across North America. Developed by the National Audubon Society, it contains detailed information on over 800 bird species found on the continent.The app's main feature is its collection of thousands of high-resolution photographs showing birds...
Audubon Bird Guide image
Collins Bird Guide icon

Collins Bird Guide

The Collins Bird Guide is a comprehensive field guide book for bird watching and identification in Britain and Europe. First published in 2009, it has become an essential reference for amateur birders and ornithologists alike.With detailed descriptions and illustrations of over 750 bird species, the Collins Bird Guide enables accurate...
Collins Bird Guide image