Identify the birds you see or hear with Merlin Bird ID. Free global bird guide with photos, sounds, maps, and more.

Apple Merlin runs on iPhones and iPads with iOS 16 or newer, and M1/M2-equipped Apple computers. To download, click on the button below or search the App Store for "Merlin Bird ID." Android Merlin runs on devices with Android 6 or newer.

Sound ID listens to the birds around you and shows real-time suggestions for who’s singing. Compare your recording to the songs and calls in Merlin to confirm what you heard.

Merlin is designed to be a birding coach for bird watchers at every level. Merlin asks you the same questions that an expert birder would ask to help solve a mystery bird sighting. Notice that date and location are Merlin’s first and most important questions.

Snap a photo of a bird, or pull one in from your camera roll, and Photo ID will offer a short list of possible matches. Photo ID works completely offline, so you can identify birds in the photos you take no matter where you are.

Each Bird Pack provides a field guide to the birds of the region with photos, sounds, and helpful ID text for bird species in the region. Merlin will tag the best pack for your current location (or any location you select) as Recommended.

Reporting birds to eBird? Read our Sound ID best practices. Choose a topic Bird Packs Photo ID Sound ID Tips and Tricks FAQs Explore our Help Articles or

Get More From Merlin Bird ID With These Powerful Features. Sort By. Date - Newest First; Date - Oldest First; Title A-Z; Title Z-A

The Merlin Sound ID project is a community-driven effort to develop a powerful, global bird sound identification tool for birders, researchers, and conservationists. This powers: Engagement – improves identification skills and community awareness of birds; Research – …

Merlin Sound ID is a tool that helps the public learn to identify bird sounds while powering: Engagement – improves identification skills and community awareness of birds; Research – expands analytical capabilities ; Conservation – supports acoustic monitoring efforts and conservation decision making