Merlin Bird ID
Free bird identification from a photo, a recorded song, or a few quick questions, backed by eBird data
by Cornell University · listed Oct 21, 2026
Quick verdict
If you are curious about birds at all, Merlin is an easy install: it is free, works offline, and its Sound ID feature is good enough to change how you hear a walk outdoors.
Best for Anyone who wants to put a name to the birds they see or hear, from casual backyard watchers to keen birders
Reviewed by AppsPicks on Oct 21, 2026. How we review
Merlin Bird ID review
Merlin is the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's bird identification app. You can name a bird by answering a short set of questions about size, color and behavior, by uploading a photo, or by recording birdsong and letting Sound ID suggest matches as it listens. It also builds lists of birds likely to be found where you are or where you are traveling. It suits backyard watchers, hikers and anyone working on their birding skills.
In daily use, Sound ID is the feature most people return to: open it on a walk and species names appear as each bird calls. Every suggestion links to photos, range maps, recordings and ID tips, which helps you check the match yourself instead of just trusting it. Before going out of signal, you download regional bird packs so identification keeps working offline. You can also save sightings to a personal list.
Why we picked it: It is completely free, has no ads or in-app purchases, and its suggestions draw on eBird and the Macaulay Library, two large, expert-curated collections of bird records, photos and sounds.
Watch out for: Sound ID can mislabel faint, distant or overlapping calls, so treat its suggestions as leads to confirm. Bird packs for some regions take a lot of storage.
What we like
- Identifies birds by sound, photo or a short question guide
- No cost, no ads and no in-app purchases
- Regional bird packs work without a connection
- Range maps, recordings and ID tips help you learn, not just look up
- Location-based lists show which species to expect nearby
What could be better
- Sound ID can make mistakes with faint or overlapping calls
- Regional packs need to be downloaded and can be large
- Sightings list is simpler than full eBird checklists
Questions about Merlin Bird ID
Is Merlin Bird ID really free?
Yes. Both app stores list it as free, and Google Play shows no in-app purchases. It is funded by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
Does it work offline?
Yes, once you download the bird pack for your region. Identification then works without a signal, which helps in remote areas.
Which platforms does it run on?
It is available for iPhone and iPad on the App Store and for Android on Google Play.
How accurate is the sound and photo identification?
The models are trained on millions of photos and recordings that birders have contributed to eBird and the Macaulay Library. Results are generally reliable for clear photos and songs. Check unusual or rare suggestions against the range maps and reference recordings.
How is it different from eBird?
Merlin is built for identifying birds and learning about them. eBird, also from Cornell, is for logging detailed checklists and sharing sightings data. Many birders use both.
From the developer: how Merlin Bird ID describes itself
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 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 • Merlin has bird 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.
Text from the app store listing, quoted for reference. Our own take is above.
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