Merlin Bird ID: Identify Every Bird You See and Hear Like Magic

Join millions of nature enthusiasts and use the Cornell Lab’s world-class AI to identify birds by sound or photo. Whether in your backyard or on a remote trail, turn every sighting into a discovery with the world's most trusted birding app.

Education ›Reference ›

Publisher

Cornell University

Witness the Magic

Discover the interface used by 11M+ users.

Merlin Bird ID app screen with text asking who is singing to promote its bird song identification feature

Common Yellowthroat bird singing on a flowering branch

Merlin Bird ID app screen showing a list of bird suggestions like Common Yellowthroat identified through real time sound recording.

Merlin Bird ID app interface showing a list of common local bird species

Interface of the Merlin Bird ID app identifying singing birds through a spectrogram showing suggestions for Osprey, Barn Swallow, and American Robin.

Two smartphone screens displaying the Merlin Bird ID app interface for identifying birds by selecting their size and main colors.

Screenshot of the Merlin Bird ID app displaying its automatic photo identification feature with a red Scarlet Tanager bird

Merlin Bird ID app showing species details for a Wood Duck including a range map and identification tips

Identify Birds Like Magic

The tools that make this app stand out, trusted by 11M+ users.

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Real-time Sound ID

Record a singing bird and watch Merlin identify the species instantly, even in the middle of a complex dawn chorus.

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Powerful Photo ID

Snap a photo or upload an image to identify birds with incredible accuracy, supported by millions of sightings from the Macaulay Library.

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Build Your Life List

Turn your nature walks into a rewarding game by tracking every new species you discover and building your own personal birding history.

Loved by users worldwide

Trusted by 11M+ people who love this app.

"Merlin is pure magic! I am a casual gardener, and the Sound ID feature has completely changed how I experience my backyard. It is so easy to use and has helped me identify dozens of birds I never even noticed before. Truly a gift for anyone who loves nature."

Sarah Jenkins

"As someone who spends every weekend on the trails, Merlin is the one app I never leave home without. The offline bird packs are a lifesaver in remote areas, and the Photo ID is incredibly accurate. It has turned my hikes into a rewarding citizen science project."

Marcus Chen

About the app

Everything you need to know about Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab.

Description

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 • Merlin has bird 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.

Latest Version

3.8

Size

359.2 MB

First Released

Dec 11, 2013

Identify Every Bird You See and Hear

Join over 11 million nature enthusiasts and start your life list today. Download the free app powered by the world-renowned Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab

What is Merlin Bird ID?

Merlin Bird ID is the leading app from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology that helps users identify birds they see and hear. It utilizes eBird's extensive database and machine learning for accurate identification.

How does Merlin Bird ID identify birds?

Merlin Bird ID identifies birds using four methods: answering simple questions, uploading a photo, recording a bird's song, or exploring birds in a specific region.

Is Merlin Bird ID a free app?

Yes, Merlin Bird ID is a free app. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology offers it freely due to support from its members, supporters, and citizen-science contributors.

Can Merlin Bird ID identify birds by sound?

Yes, Merlin Bird ID features Sound ID, which uses machine learning to identify birds from recorded audio. Users can record a singing bird, and the app provides identification suggestions.

How does Merlin Bird ID's Photo ID feature work?

Merlin Bird ID's Photo ID feature allows users to upload a bird photo. Powered by Visipedia machine learning, the app analyzes the image and suggests possible bird species.

Does Merlin Bird ID provide information about bird species?

Yes, Merlin Bird ID provides comprehensive information including expert ID tips, range maps, photos, and sounds for over 10,000+ bird species worldwide.

Can I track my bird sightings with Merlin Bird ID?

Yes, Merlin Bird ID allows users to keep track of their sightings and build a personal list of the birds they find. This feature helps in building birding skills.

What is the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's role in Merlin Bird ID?

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology develops and offers Merlin Bird ID for free. They ensure accuracy through their extensive research, education, and citizen science efforts.

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