BirdNET
An app that identifies birds from a recording of their song.
What BirdNET does
BirdNET is a free bird sound ID app from a research project run by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Chemnitz University of Technology. Record a bird singing, pick the part of the recording you want, and it suggests the species with a confidence score. Your recordings can help research.
BirdNET does one thing: it listens. Record a bird with your phone's microphone, select the section with the call, and it shows the most likely species with a confidence rating. It uses your location and the time to keep suggestions realistic.
It's a joint research project of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's bioacoustics center and Chemnitz University of Technology in Germany, and it's free. Recordings you submit help scientists collect bird observations. The store listing says it knows nearly 3,000 common species in North America and Europe.
It's more bare-bones than Merlin: no photo ID and no field guide pages. The iPhone version was last updated in mid 2025. In 2026 the same team released BirdNET Live, a newer app that runs fully offline and covers many more species, so if you're starting fresh, try that too.
Alternatives to BirdNET
Who it's for
Skip it if: Anyone who wants photo ID or a full field guide.
Pricing
Free planBirdNET is free. Its store listing doesn't mention any in-app purchases.
Prices can vary by country. Checked 19 Oct 2026.
What people like
- Free
- Shows confidence scores
- Built by a research team
- Works on iPhone and Android
Watch out for
- Sound only, no photo ID
- iPhone app updated less often
- Fewer extras than Merlin
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Questions people ask
Is BirdNET free?
Yes. BirdNET is free on iPhone and Android.
Who makes BirdNET?
It's a joint project of the K. Lisa Yang Center for Conservation Bioacoustics at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Chemnitz University of Technology.
BirdNET or Merlin?
Merlin is easier for beginners and also does photo ID. BirdNET is a good second opinion for songs and shows a confidence score.
What's the difference between BirdNET and BirdNET Live?
BirdNET Live is a newer app from the same team. It listens in real time, runs fully on your phone without internet, and covers more species.