#1in Bird IdentificationMerlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab
What is Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab?
Merlin Bird ID is a reference app from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology that helps users identify birds they see and hear. It offers four identification methods: answering questions, uploading a photo, recording a singing bird, or exploring birds in a region. It is powered by eBird data and includes expert ID tips, range maps, photos, and sounds.
Pricing. Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab is free, with no in-app purchases on the App Store.
Good for
- Identifying an unknown bird seen in a backyard or park
- Naming a bird heard singing but not seen
- Learning which birds live in a region or travel destination
Screenshots
Why this app is in S tier
Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab scores 97 out of 100: rating 97, rating count 92, App Store search rank 100, update recency 100. The four parts are averaged with no weights, and S tier follows from that score within this list. The full explanation, as data.
Description
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. M
Compare in Bird Identification
| Measure | Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab |  Birdbuddy |  Bird Sounds Identifier Call ID |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tier | S | S | S |
| Score | 97 / 100 | 95 / 100 | 93 / 100 |
| Rating | 4.9 ★ | 4.8 ★ | 4.7 ★ |
| Ratings | 114K | 62.0K | 14.1K |
| Latest ratings · 180d | 3.8 ★ · 20 reviews | 2.5 ★ · 20 reviews | 2.5 ★ · 20 reviews |
| Last update | 12d ago | 3d ago | 7d ago |
| Price | Free | Free + IAP | Free + IAP |
Alternatives
See all 10 ›- BirdbuddyFree + IAP · ★ 4.8S
- Bird Sounds Identifier Call IDFree + IAP · ★ 4.7S
Bird IdentifierFree download · ★ 4.7S
Questions about Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab
Does the app cost money?
The app is free to download. The listing shows no in-app purchases. The Cornell Lab states it offers Merlin for free thanks to members, supporters, and citizen-science contributors.
How does Merlin identify birds?
Users can answer a few simple questions, upload a photo, record a singing bird, or explore birds in a region. Photo ID and Sound ID use machine learning trained on photos and sounds archived in the Macaulay Library.
Does it cover birds outside North America?
The listing says Merlin has photos, songs, calls, and identification help for locations including Mexico, Costa Rica, South America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, India, Australia, Korea, Japan, and China.
Is Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab free?
Yes. Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab is free on the App Store, with no in-app purchases.
What is Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab good for?
Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab is built for identifying an unknown bird seen in a backyard or park, naming a bird heard singing but not seen, learning which birds live in a region or travel destination. It sits in the bird identification list on AppTierList.
Is Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab worth it?
Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab is S tier, ranked #1 of 11 bird identification apps with a score of 97 out of 100, from a 4.9 App Store rating across 113,848 ratings. That is the top of its list.
How does Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab compare to Birdbuddy?
Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab is S tier at 97; Birdbuddy is S tier at 95. Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab ranks higher. Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab is free, with no in-app purchases, Birdbuddy is free to download, with in-app purchases.
How often is Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab updated?
Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab was updated 12 days ago, which counts in its favour.
All the facts
- List
- Bird Identification (S tier, #1)
- Tier
- S (Best in class)
- Score
- 97 / 100
- Rank in list
- #1 of 11
- Ranking certainty
- settled
- Price
- Free
- App Store rating
- 4.9 out of 5
- Number of ratings
- 113,848
- Recent reviews
- 3.8 from 20 in the last 180 days
- Current version
- (12 days ago)
- App Store data read
- App Store category
- Reference
- Good for
- Identifying an unknown bird seen in a backyard or park, Naming a bird heard singing but not seen, Learning which birds live in a region or travel destination
- Requires
- iOS 18.0 or later
- Size
- 319 MB
- Age rating
- 4+
- Languages
- 31
- Runs on
- iPhone
- Developer pages
- Website · Support · Privacy policy
- Maker
- unclaimed
- As data
- JSON · why it ranks here
App Store data read · reviews · ranking · how it is computed