Merlin Bird ID is a free mobile app developed by the renowned Cornell Lab of Ornithology designed to help birdwatchers of all skill levels identify birds instantly anywhere in the world. It is powered by eBird, the world’s largest database of bird sightings.
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Sound ID: Functions like “Shazam for birds.” It listens to bird songs and calls in real time and highlights the species singing around you. It even works offline.
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Photo ID: Powered by computer vision, this tool allows you to take a photo or upload one from your gallery to get an instant match.
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Step-by-Step ID: If you didn’t get audio or a photo, you can answer three simple questions about the bird’s size, main colors, and behavior (combined with your location and date) to reveal a list of likely species.
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Regional Bird Packs: To save phone storage, you only download specific “Bird Packs” for your region or travel destination (covering the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Oceania).
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Life List Integration: You can log your sightings directly to save them to your personal Life List, tracking every species you have ever seen.
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Expert Content: Every species profile comes with high-quality photos, ID tips, range maps, and a library of sounds.