Merlin Bird ID

Merlin Bird ID helps you identify birds using two interactive, offline-first tools: Sound ID and Photo ID. Sound ID listens to birds around you and offers real-time suggestions for what’s singing, letting you compare your recording to bird songs and calls in Merlin to confirm what you heard. Photo ID works similarly for visuals—snap a photo (or choose one from your camera roll) and get a short list of possible matches.

If you’re not sure where to start, Merlin also includes the Bird ID Wizard. Answer three simple questions about the bird you’re trying to identify, and the wizard generates a list of possible matches to guide you through the process.

To keep track of what you’ve found, Merlin lets you save identifications to your Life List using “Save My Bird.” Tap “This is my bird!” each time you identify a bird, and Merlin will add it to your growing list.

Merlin is powered by eBird to support custom bird lists. You can use filters to explore birds for different locations or times of year, and you can switch to show downloaded Offline Birds. Sound ID and Photo ID are available for specific regions (including the US, Canada, Europe, with some common birds from Central and South America and India), and more species and regions are coming soon.

How does Merlin Bird ID identify birds by sound?

Use Sound ID to listen to birds around you and receive real-time suggestions. You can compare your recording against songs and calls in Merlin to confirm the bird you heard.

Can I identify birds from a photo using Merlin Bird ID?

Yes. Use Photo ID to snap a photo or select one from your camera roll, and Merlin will show a short list of likely matches.

Do Sound ID and Photo ID work offline?

Yes. Both Sound ID and Photo ID work completely offline, so you can identify birds without an internet connection.

How do I save birds to my Life List?

After you identify a bird, tap “This is my bird!” using Save My Bird. Merlin will add it to your Life List.

What is the Bird ID Wizard for?

The Bird ID Wizard helps with step-by-step identification by asking three simple questions, then providing a list of possible matches.

Where are Sound ID species and regions available?

Sound ID is available for birds in the US, Canada, Europe, with some common birds from Central and South America and India, with additional species and regions coming soon.