Best Bird Call Identification Apps

244+ iOS apps curated and reviewed

4.4 avg rating
19 free apps
Updated September 2026

Finding the right bird call identification apps can be overwhelming with so many options. We've analyzed 244+ apps to bring you the best choices for 2026, from free options to premium solutions with advanced features.

Compare top Bird Call Identification Apps (September 2026)

#AppPriceRatingAdsIn-App PurchasesUpdated
1Merlin Bird ID by Cornell LabMerlin Bird ID by Cornell LabFree4.9★ (111K)NoNoSep 2026
2Audubon Bird GuideAudubon Bird GuideFree4.3★ (4.5K)YesNoSep 2026
3Bird Sounds Identifier Call IDBird Sounds Identifier Call IDFree4.7★ (14K)YesYesSep 2026
4Identify Birds – Smart Bird IDIdentify Birds – Smart Bird IDFree4.7★ (17K)NoYesSep 2026
5Bird Call Identification AppBird Call Identification AppFreeNoYesSep 2026
6Bird ID - Call IdentificationBird ID - Call IdentificationFree4.8★ (16)NoYesAug 2026
7BirdNETBirdNETFree4.0★ (212)NoNoSep 2026
8Bird Identifier: BirdScopeBird Identifier: BirdScopeFree4.7★ (2.9K)NoYesSep 2026

Top Picks for Bird Call Identification

Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab#1

Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab by Cornell University

Identify Birds You See & Hear
Editor's Choice
🔍 Reference
4.9😊(111K ratings)
Free
#12in Reference
Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab screenshot 1
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Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab screenshot 5
Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab screenshot 6

Easily identify birds by sight or sound using advanced machine learning. Explore birds in your region, track your sightings, and learn about species with photos, sounds, and range maps. This free app from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology helps build your birding skills.

What We Love

  • 🚀 Helpful for bird identification
  • 🔒 Accurate bird identification
  • 👍 Easy to use
  • 👍 Useful for beginners and experts
  • 👍 Enjoyable and fun to use
  • 👍 Comprehensive bird information
  • 👍 Excellent sound identification feature
  • 👍 Connects with eBird
  • 👍 Free app with no ads

Room to Improve

  • 🐛 Sound ID not always accurate
  • 🐛 Occasional crashes or bugs
  • 🐛 Difficulty adding birds to life list
  • 🐛 Limited bird packs for certain regions
  • 🐛 Requires location access
  • 🐛 High battery consumption
  • 🐛 Confusing user interface in some areas
Audubon Bird Guide#2

Audubon Bird Guide by National Audubon Society

Identify over 800 bird species
Strong Contender
🔍 Reference
4.3😊(4.5K ratings)
FreeAds
Audubon Bird Guide screenshot 1
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Audubon Bird Guide screenshot 5

Identify North American birds with this comprehensive field guide. Features include a bird ID tool based on observations, detailed species information with photos and audio, and a personal sightings log. Discover nearby birding locations and connect with conservation efforts.

What We Love

  • 🚀 Great app
  • 👍 Easy to use
  • 🔍 Helpful for identifying birds
  • 🎶 Useful bird calls and sounds
  • 📍 Provides location-based bird sightings
  • 🗺️ Detailed range maps
  • 🤝 Supports community features
  • 💰 Free app with great value

Room to Improve

  • 🐛 Buggy and crashes
  • 🔄 Confusing interface changes
  • 🔒 Requires account creation
  • 📍 Limited location-based features
  • 🗺️ Outdated or incomplete range maps
  • 🎶 Missing bird calls and sounds
  • 🖼️ Poor photo quality and functionality
Bird Sounds Identifier Call ID#3

Bird Sounds Identifier Call ID by Nhu Nguyen Thi

Bird Identifier By Sound, Song
Worth Considering
🔍 Reference
4.7😞(14K ratings)
FreeAdsIn-App Purchases
#87in Reference
Bird Sounds Identifier Call ID screenshot 1
Bird Sounds Identifier Call ID screenshot 2
Bird Sounds Identifier Call ID screenshot 3
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Bird Sounds Identifier Call ID screenshot 5
Bird Sounds Identifier Call ID screenshot 6

Identify birds by their songs or images. This app can recognize over 10,000 species, providing detailed information and photos. It's designed for bird lovers and nature enthusiasts to easily learn about avian life.

What We Love

  • 🚀 Accurate bird identification
  • 👍 Helpful for bird enthusiasts
  • 🌟 Impressive app overall
  • 🎉 Great for learning about birds

Room to Improve

  • 🐛 Inaccurate bird identification
  • 💰 Expensive subscription
  • 🤖 Overly aggressive upselling
  • 🤔 Limited functionality in free version
  • 🌍 Not suitable for non-North American users

More Bird Call Identification apps to explore

FAQ about Bird Call Identification

What are the best bird call identification apps for iPhone?
Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab tops our bird call identification apps ranking as of September 2026, with a 4.9-star average from 111K App Store ratings, and it's free to download.
Yes — 19 of the top bird call identification apps we rank are free to download, including Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab and Audubon Bird Guide.
Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab has no ads and has no in-app purchases, according to its App Store listing as of September 2026.
We track 244+ bird call identification apps on the iOS App Store as of September 2026, ranked by rating, recency, and analysis of real user reviews.
Merlin Bird ID is a free app that helps you identify birds you see or hear. It uses machine learning powered by a vast database of bird sightings, sounds, and photos from eBird. You can identify birds by uploading a photo, recording a sound, answering simple questions, or exploring birds in a specific region.
The app leverages machine learning trained on millions of photos and sounds collected by experienced birders. This, combined with curated data from eBird and the Macaulay Library, ensures highly accurate identification results. Expert birders contribute to the ongoing improvement of the identification algorithms.

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