Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab

4.9
122K reviews
5M+
Downloads
Content rating
Rated for 3+
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About this app

What's that bird? Ask Merlin—the world’s leading app for birds. Just like magic, Merlin Bird ID will help you solve the mystery.

Merlin Bird ID helps you identify birds you see and hear. Merlin is unlike any other bird app—it's powered by eBird, the world’s largest database of bird sightings, sounds, and photos.

Merlin offers four fun ways to identify birds. Answer a few simple questions, upload a photo, record a singing bird, or explore birds in a region.

Whether you’re curious about a bird you’ve seen once or you’re hoping to identify every bird you can find, the answers are waiting for you with this free app from the renowned Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

WHY YOU’LL LOVE MERLIN
• Expert ID tips, range maps, photos, and sounds help you learn about the birds you spot and build birding skills.
• Discover a new bird species each day with your own personalized Bird of the Day
• Get customized lists of birds you can find where you live or travel - anywhere in the world!
• Keep track of your sightings—build your personal list of the birds you find

MACHINE LEARNING MAGIC
• Powered by Visipedia, Merlin Sound ID and Photo ID uses machine learning to identify birds in photos and sounds. Merlin learns to recognize bird species based on training sets of millions of photos and sounds collected by birders at eBird.org, archived in the Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
• Merlin delivers the most accurate results thanks to experienced birders, who curate and annotate sightings, photos, and sounds, who are the true magic behind Merlin.

AMAZING CONTENT
• Choose bird packs that contain photos, songs, and calls, and identification help for anywhere in the world, including Mexico, Costa Rica, South America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, India, Australia, Korea, Japan, China, and more.

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s mission is to interpret and conserve the Earth’s biological diversity through research, education, and citizen science focused on birds and nature. We are able to offer Merlin for free thanks to the generosity of Cornell Lab members, supporters, and citizen-science contributors.
Updated on
May 14, 2025

Data safety

Safety starts with understanding how developers collect and share your data. Data privacy and security practices may vary based on your use, region, and age. The developer provided this information and may update it over time.
No data shared with third parties
Learn more about how developers declare sharing
This app may collect these data types
Personal info, App activity and 2 others
Data is encrypted in transit
You can request that data be deleted

Ratings and reviews

4.9
121K reviews
Jen K.
May 10, 2025
I enjoy using this app. You can identify birds by sound, photo, or a visual description. It has photos of the birds in different stages, migration maps, and interesting details about each bird. You can download packs based on where you live or are traveling to. I live in the lower 48 but have also used it in Alaska and the Dominican Republic. I already have the European pack downloaded for my trip next month.
35 people found this review helpful
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Melissa Blomquist
April 25, 2025
Super easy to navigate. Offers up very specific species based on my location and other identifying factors. Also has an easy to use and accurate photo ID option. It has bird calls and songs for each species, and I enjoy playing them to hear the birds respond. I have even used it on bird watching walks to call in the birds to take better pictures. If there was one thing I would change about it, I would add a feature to share the beautiful audio recordings I have captured.
101 people found this review helpful
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Gina D
May 1, 2025
I use it daily because it tells me what birds are in my yard. I love to learn about each bird and being able to listen to every bird's different calls and song's is great fun. My phone camera doesn't take good enough pictures, so can't get accurate I'd, but sound I'd works great. By listening, I've found birds I never knew where in my yard. My only complaint is once I joined e-bird, Merlin will no longer add birds to my life list. E-bird is way too complicated for me and I've tried every thing.
8 people found this review helpful
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What’s new

- ID Tips: Enjoy bite-sized bits of birding joy as you listen! While running Sound ID, keep an eye out for short videos and photos that will help you identify and learn more about the birds you are hearing.
- Improved Search on Explore Species: Discover bird species near you, at different times of the year, and in any other location in the world with a new, expanded search feature!
- Sound ID now includes hundreds of new species in Central and South America, India, Taiwan, and Australia!