Pricing
The app is presented as free, with no paid tier described on the homepage. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is a nonprofit organization, and Merlin is offered as part of its public educational work.
Learn moreMerlin Bird ID
Free bird identification by sound, photo, or step-by-step questions.
Beginner
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What is Merlin Bird ID?
Merlin Bird ID is a learning tool. A free app from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology that identifies birds by sound, by photo, or through three simple questions. Sound ID and Photo ID work offline, and identified birds can be saved to a life list backed by eBird data.
Merlin Bird ID is a free identification assistant built by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. It answers a narrow question very well: what bird is this? The app offers three routes to an answer. Sound ID listens through the phone microphone and shows real-time suggestions for the species singing nearby. Photo ID accepts a shot from the camera or the camera roll and returns a short list of likely matches. Step-by-step identification asks three simple questions about size, color, and behavior, then narrows the candidates. Both Sound ID and Photo ID run entirely offline, which matters in the field where signal is unreliable. The surrounding features turn a one-off identification into a personal record. Tapping 'This is my bird' adds the species to a digital life list, and custom lists built from eBird data show which birds are expected at a given location or season. Users can download regional bird packs so the whole experience, including the reference material, keeps working without a connection. Merlin leans on community-submitted photos, songs, and calls, expert tips, and range maps from Birds of the World, all backed by observations flowing into eBird. The tool suits casual walkers who want a name for the visitor at the feeder as much as it suits committed birders keeping careful lists. It is deliberately simple: there is no manual tagging, no media editing, and no social layer inside the app. Compared with generic image classifiers, Merlin is narrower and more trustworthy for birds because its training data and range maps come from organized ornithological sources. Compared with a field guide, it is faster at the moment of encounter but weaker for deep study. The app is free, and identification is the core of the product rather than a teaser for a paid tier.
How do you use Merlin Bird ID?
1Install the app and set your location
Download Merlin Bird ID for iOS or Android, then allow location access so the app can suggest birds expected in your area.2Download a bird pack for offline use
Open the bird packs section and download the pack for your region. This keeps identification and reference material working without a signal.3Identify a bird by its song
Start Sound ID, hold the phone toward the sound, and watch the real-time suggestions appear as the bird sings.4Identify a bird from a photo
Take a photo or pick one from the camera roll. Photo ID returns a short list of likely species to compare against your sighting.5Confirm with step-by-step questions
If you have no photo or sound, answer the three questions about the bird and review the resulting list of possible matches.6Save the bird to your life list
Once you settle on an identification, tap 'This is my bird' to add it to your digital life list and keep a record of the sighting.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Three identification paths (sound, photo, questions) cover different situations in the field.AI
- Sound ID and Photo ID run fully offline, so identification works without a connection.AI
- Range maps and custom lists draw on eBird observations rather than generic image data.AI
- Life list saving turns casual sightings into a personal record over time.AI
- Backed by a nonprofit ornithology lab, so the reference data has a scientific basis.AI
Cons
- Photo ID and Sound ID return candidate lists rather than a single confirmed answer, so judgment is still required.AI
- The app is built around identification and lists; it is not a full field guide for study or comparison.AI
- Offline use depends on downloading regional bird packs in advance, which adds setup.AI
- Community-sourced photos and recordings can vary in quality across less-observed species.AI
How much does Merlin Bird ID cost?
Integrations
Merlin is powered by eBird for observations and custom lists, and range maps come from Birds of the World. No third-party integrations are listed on the homepage.
Features
Sound ID gives real-time suggestions from birdsong and works offline. Photo ID identifies birds from a photo or camera roll image, also offline. Step-by-step identification asks three questions and returns possible matches. Save My Bird builds a life list, and custom lists from eBird show likely birds by location or season. Regional bird packs support offline use.
Frequently asked questions about Merlin Bird ID
How much does Merlin Bird ID cost?
The app is presented as free, with no paid tier described on the homepage. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is a nonprofit organization, and Merlin is offered as part of its public educational work.How do you use Merlin Bird ID?
The walkthrough on this page covers 6 steps: 1. Install the app and set your location 2. Download a bird pack for offline use 3. Identify a bird by its song 4. Identify a bird from a photo 5. Confirm with step-by-step questions 6. Save the bird to your life list.What platforms does Merlin Bird ID support?
Merlin Bird ID is available on iOS and Android.What does Merlin Bird ID integrate with?
Merlin is powered by eBird for observations and custom lists, and range maps come from Birds of the World. No third-party integrations are listed on the homepage.What are the limitations of Merlin Bird ID?
Photo ID and Sound ID return candidate lists rather than a single confirmed answer, so judgment is still required. The app is built around identification and lists; it is not a full field guide for study or comparison. Offline use depends on downloading regional bird packs in advance, which adds setup.
Status
StatusActive
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Added10/21/2026
Platforms
iOSAndroid
Pricing
Free
