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
Mar 17, 2026
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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.
I was really excited to use this app and start cataloging birds, however, the life list is not working properly. I cataloged three birds and they are not showing up on the life list. if this issue's fixed, I'd happily give it five stars. thank you for all the hard work you've done on this app! update: the app does show you your life list but only a day after, which seems odd. I do think another disappointing aspect of the app is that when you take a picture of a bird, it does not save it.
15 people found this review helpful
dana anderson
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February 16, 2026
I don't really like rating apps unless they leave a lasting Mark and that's what this app has done. I've always been interested in birds but never got around to actually learning how to identify them? this app makes it incredibly easy with the ability to identify them just by the noises they make. I've been in many states including Wisconsin, Minnesota, Colorado, Hawaii, and California and no matter where I go, it has been consistent in giving me accurate birds just based on a call.
22 people found this review helpful
Nancy J. Smyth
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March 10, 2026
I love this app. It's one of the few that I let myself use first thing in the morning because it brings me more in touch with my surroundings not into my phone. I enjoy being able to identify birds through their songs and callscalls and also through looking them up. it's a free app, but I donate a little bit to them every month.
3 people found this review helpful
What’s new
What’s new in 3.10.1: - Habitat Photos: Discover where birds live with our new curated carousels, making it easier than ever to find birds near you or further afield! - Nearby Places: Get seasonal suggestions for spots to find your Bird of the Day and other birds you want to see. - Seasonally Dynamic Media: Photos and sounds now adapt to the seasons, highlighting how birds change throughout the year. - Tajik Language: We’re proud to introduce common names in Tajik!