How to Identify Birds with the Merlin Bird ID App

Whether you’re an avid birder or just someone who’s curious about the birds in your backyard, identifying feathered friends can be both fun and educational. Thanks to modern technology, it’s never been easier to recognize and learn about birds in your area. One of the best tools out there for bird identification is the Merlin Bird ID app by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Merlin Bird ID is a free mobile app designed to help users identify birds through a few simple steps or even a photo or sound recording. It’s ideal for beginners but also loved by experienced birders for its convenience and accuracy. The app covers thousands of bird species worldwide, making it a powerful field guide right in your pocket.

Merlin walks you through five quick questions:

1. Where did you see the bird?
2. When did you see it?
3. What size was it?
4. What were its main colors?
5. What was it doing?

Based on your answers, the app suggests a list of possible species, complete with photos and sounds.

Snap a picture or upload one from your phone, and Merlin will analyze it to suggest bird species that match the image. This is incredibly helpful when you manage to photograph an unusual or unfamiliar bird.

One of Merlin’s most impressive tools is Sound ID. Simply press record, and the app listens to bird songs and calls in real time. It identifies multiple birds at once, showing their names and pictures as they sing. This feature is particularly useful in dense forests or early mornings when birds are heard more than seen.

Merlin supports birds from across the globe. You can download Bird ID packs specific to your region or travel destination. Each pack contains local species, making identification more accurate based on location and time of year.

• Beginner-Friendly: No need to memorize field marks or complex terminology.
• Accurate: Developed by experts and based on millions of real-world observations.
• Educational: Learn bird songs, behaviors, habitats, and migration patterns.
• Community-Powered: Built on data from eBird, one of the largest citizen-science birding databases.

Imagine you’re on a walk and hear a melodic song coming from the trees. You can:

• Open the app and tap “Sound ID.”
• Let it listen for a few seconds.
• Merlin instantly displays “Song Sparrow” with a photo and call playback.
• You tap to learn more and discover that the Song Sparrow is one of the most widespread species in North America.

• Try to get a clear photo or recording.
• Observe behavior: Is the bird hopping on the ground or flying high?
• Note surroundings: Wetlands, forests, urban areas all host different birds.
• Record sounds in quiet areas to minimize background noise.

Final Thoughts

The Merlin Bird ID app transforms the birdwatching experience. Whether you’re enjoying coffee on the porch or trekking through remote woods, you can connect more deeply with nature and build your knowledge of birds effortlessly. With every chirp and tweet you identify, you’re taking part in a worldwide effort to appreciate and protect birdlife.

So next time you hear a mysterious melody or spot a fluttering silhouette, just reach for your phone and let Merlin be your guide to the avian world.