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Merlin Bird ID

An app that names birds from their songs, photos or a description.

Identify anythingBirds and wildlifeFree planWorks offline+1 more
Get Merlin Bird IDBuild your own plant appFree plan

What Merlin Bird ID does

Merlin Bird ID from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology is a free app that identifies birds by sound, by photo, or by answering a few questions about what you saw. It covers thousands of species worldwide, keeps a life list, and Sound ID can work offline.

Sound ID with live suggestions as birds sing
Photo ID from a snap or upload
Step by step ID by size, color and behavior
Range maps, photos and recordings for each species
Life list and downloadable bird packs by region

Merlin is the bird app most guides recommend first, and it's free. Hold up your phone while birds sing and Sound ID shows suggestions as each bird calls. You can also snap or upload a photo, or answer a few quick questions about size, colors and what the bird was doing.

Behind it sits eBird, the Cornell Lab's database of sightings, sounds and photos, so suggestions take your location and the date into account. Each species has ID tips, range maps, photos and recordings. You can download bird packs for the regions you visit, keep a life list, and get a daily bird of the day.

Sound ID can work offline, which is handy on trails with no signal, but photo ID and species details need the right regional pack downloaded first. Sound coverage is narrower than photo coverage in some places, so check what's supported before a trip. Treat any suggestion as a good lead and confirm with a look if you can.

Alternatives to Merlin Bird ID

Seek by iNaturalistPoint your camera at nature and learn what it is, no account needed
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Audubon Bird GuideA free field guide to 800+ North American birds
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eBirdLog the birds you see and share them with science
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iNaturalistShare nature photos and get IDs from AI and a real community
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BirdNETRecord a bird song and see which species is singing
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BirdNET LiveReal-time, offline sound ID for birds and other wildlife
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Who it's for

Beginners who hear a bird and want a name
Birders traveling to new regions

Skip it if: Anyone looking for plant or insect ID.

Pricing

Free plan
Free

Merlin is free. Its store listing doesn't mention any in-app purchases or subscriptions.

Prices can vary by country. Checked 19 Oct 2026.

What people like

  • Free
  • Three ways to identify a bird
  • Sound ID can work offline
  • Backed by eBird data

Watch out for

  • Download regional packs before a trip
  • Sound coverage varies by region
  • Birds only

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Questions people ask

Is Merlin Bird ID free?

Yes. Merlin is free on iPhone and Android.

Does Merlin work offline?

Sound ID can work offline. For photo ID and species details, download the bird pack for your region before you lose signal.

How does Merlin identify bird songs?

Its Sound ID listens through your phone's microphone and suggests which birds are singing, using machine learning trained on eBird recordings.

Does Merlin work outside the US?

Yes. It covers birds in many regions worldwide, though sound coverage is narrower in some places.