Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab icon

Merlin Bird ID: Bird Identification

by Cornell University

4.9
IOSReference

Merlin Bird ID is the leading app for bird identification, using AI to identify birds by sight and sound. Powered by eBird, it offers expert tips, customized lists, and keeps track of your sightings, anywhere in the world.

About Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab

Merlin Bird ID is your go-to app for solving the mystery of "What's that bird?" This app identifies birds you see and hear with machine learning. It's powered by eBird, the world’s largest database of bird sightings, sounds, and photos. Merlin offers multiple ways to identify birds: answer simple questions, upload a photo, record a singing bird, or explore birds in a region. "In just seconds, this app actually identifies all of the birds that are audible or visible in my backyard!" Get expert ID tips, range maps, photos, and sounds to build your birding skills. Discover a new bird species each day with the personalized Bird of the Day feature. Get customized lists of birds you can find where you live or travel, anywhere in the world, and keep track of your sightings. Merlin Sound ID and Photo ID use machine learning to identify birds in photos and sounds. The app learns to recognize bird species based on millions of photos and sounds collected by birders at eBird.org. Merlin has bird photos, songs, calls, and identification help for anywhere in the world. "The way this app works is impressive. It’s super accurate, and very informative." It's a fantastic tool for bird watching and wildlife enthusiasts.

Key Features

  • Identify birds by sound, photo, or answering questions
  • Explore customized lists of birds for any location
  • Keep track of your bird sightings

Why Users Love It

Accurately identifies birds by sound and image
Provides expert tips and detailed information
"I love this app and it’s been accurate... Great App" (5/5) – 100 chars

Perfect for: Perfect for bird watchers of all levels, from curious beginners to experienced birders.

Screenshots

Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab screenshot 1Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab screenshot 2Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab screenshot 3Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab screenshot 4Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab screenshot 5Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab screenshot 6

Ranking History

Category #17

7/17/2025

#8

Category #17

7/16/2025

#6

Category #17

7/15/2025

#5

Category #17

7/14/2025

#4

Category #17

7/12/2025

#4

Category #17

7/11/2025

#5

Category #17

7/10/2025

#5

Category #17

7/9/2025

#6

User Reviews

Spurs Fan for Life
6/17/2025

I love this app and it’s been accurate. If I can’t figure out what bird is calling/singing I pull this out and there it is ! Great App I love this app and it’s been accurate. If I can’t figure out what bird is calling/singing I pull this out and there it is !

AGP LLC
7/5/2025

The way this app works is impressive. It’s super accurate, and very informative. It highlights the bird as it listens. It Kudos to those who developed it. Fantastic App! The way this app works is impressive. It’s super accurate, and very informative. It highlights the bird as it listens. It Kudos to those who developed it.

bobolink2002
6/18/2025

I used Merlin in trips around the world. While most of my trips were not focused on birding, the app really helped me identify birds showed up in the surroundings. Also scrolling through the LifeList at relax is always joyful (a small suggestion is to add thumbnail markers in LifeList as Explore to make navigation faster). Anyway, a great app! Wonderful birding app I used Merlin in trips around the world. While most of my trips were not focused on birding, the app really helped me identify birds showed up in the surroundings. Also scrolling through the LifeList at relax is always joyful (a small suggestion is to add thumbnail markers in LifeList as Explore to make navigation faster). Anyway, a great app!

EmbedCtrl
6/18/2025

Amazing way to listen and then try to see the birds singing where ever you are. I have learned many things from this app and strongly recommend even for the simply curious. Open my ears and eyes to birds Amazing way to listen and then try to see the birds singing where ever you are. I have learned many things from this app and strongly recommend even for the simply curious.

I<3CatsSoMuchhh
6/18/2025

Okay so I have a lot of birds in my area and I wanted to see what types of birds there are in my neighborhood so I downloaded the app and when I turned it on it straight away gave me so many different birds like the red cardinal, brown headed cowbird, red winged blackbird, and a mourning dove. And there are also a lot of purple martins during summer and I was pretty far away from the bird houses they stay in and they got purple martins straight away! I am so happy that on my first use of this app was so successful! I highly recommend this app for anyone who wants to see what types of cool birds are in your area! Five stars! Best bird app ever! Okay so I have a lot of birds in my area and I wanted to see what types of birds there are in my neighborhood so I downloaded the app and when I turned it on it straight away gave me so many different birds like the red cardinal, brown headed cowbird, red winged blackbird, and a mourning dove. And there are also a lot of purple martins during summer and I was pretty far away from the bird houses they stay in and they got purple martins straight away! I am so happy that on my first use of this app was so successful! I highly recommend this app for anyone who wants to see what types of cool birds are in your area! Five stars!

App Details

Developer

Cornell University

Platform

ios

Rating

4.9

Last Updated

7/7/2025