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Best Cornell Ornithology Lab Apps

249+ iOS apps curated and reviewed

3.6 avg rating
19 free apps
Updated August 2026

If you already know Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab, this is the deeper bench. 249+ cornell ornithology lab apps for iPhone, all reviewed and ranked by user rating, recency, and download trend as of August 2026.

Compare top Cornell Ornithology Lab Apps (August 2026)

#AppPriceRatingAdsIn-App PurchasesUpdated
1Merlin Bird ID by Cornell LabMerlin Bird ID by Cornell LabFree4.9★ (111K)NoNoAug 2026
2eBirdeBirdFree3.8★ (803)NoNoAug 2026
3Audubon Bird GuideAudubon Bird GuideFree4.3★ (4.5K)YesNoAug 2026
4NestWatch by the Cornell LabNestWatch by the Cornell LabFree4.0★ (18)NoNoAug 2026
5Bird Identifier: RoostlyBird Identifier: RoostlyFree4.5★ (1.9K)NoYesAug 2026
6Haikubox 2Haikubox 2Free—NoYesAug 2026
7Twitcher: Birds of New ZealandTwitcher: Birds of New ZealandFree4.0★ (1)NoYesAug 2026
8African Bird ClubAfrican Bird ClubFree—NoYesMay 2026

Top Picks for Cornell Ornithology Lab

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
#9in Reference
Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab screenshot 1
Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab screenshot 2
Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab screenshot 3
Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab screenshot 4
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

Room to Improve

  • 🐛 Sound ID not always accurate
  • 🐛 Occasional crashes or bugs
  • 🐛 Difficulty adding birds to life list
eBird#2

eBird by Cornell University

Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Strong Contender
🔍 Reference
3.8😐(803 ratings)
Free
eBird screenshot 1
eBird screenshot 2
eBird screenshot 3
eBird screenshot 4
eBird screenshot 5

Easily record bird sightings in the field and contribute to a global database for scientific research and conservation. This app offers offline functionality, customized checklists, and GPS-enabled location plotting.

What We Love

  • 🚀 Excellent for citizen science
  • 🔍 Helpful for finding birds at hotspots
  • 📚 Useful for tracking life lists
  • 👍 Easy to use and submit checklists

Room to Improve

  • 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
  • 🔋 High battery consumption
  • 📍 Issues with location tracking and mapping
Audubon Bird Guide#3

Audubon Bird Guide by National Audubon Society

Identify over 800 bird species
Worth Considering
🔍 Reference
4.3😊(4.5K ratings)
FreeAds
Audubon Bird Guide screenshot 1
Audubon Bird Guide screenshot 2
Audubon Bird Guide screenshot 3
Audubon Bird Guide screenshot 4
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

Room to Improve

  • 🐛 Buggy and crashes
  • 🔄 Confusing interface changes
  • 🔒 Requires account creation

More Cornell Ornithology Lab apps to explore

4
NestWatch by the Cornell Lab
NestWatch by the Cornell Lab
NestWatch by the Cornell Lab
by Cornell University
Free

Contribute to citizen science by tracking nesting birds across North America. Record nest locations, species, and nesting details to build a comprehensive database for scientific research and conservation efforts. The app offers offline functionality for data entry in remote areas.

Report bird nest locationsEnter species, egg, and young dataContribute to avian nesting success database
📚 Education
(18)
ad-supported
5
Bird Identifier: Roostly
Bird Identifier: Roostly
Bird Identifier: Roostly
Sound, Song, Call & Photo ID
Free

Instantly identify birds from a single photo using AI. Get detailed information on each bird, save your discoveries, and share them with friends. Perfect for bird watchers and nature lovers.

AI-powered bird identificationDetailed bird informationSave and share identifications
🔍 Reference
(1.9K)
free with in-app purchases
6
Haikubox 2
Haikubox 2
Haikubox 2
Live Bird Song ID
Free
🔍 Reference
(0)
7
Twitcher: Birds of New Zealand
Twitcher: Birds of New Zealand
Twitcher: Birds of New Zealand
Identify All the Birds of NZ
Free

A comprehensive pocket guide to New Zealand's birds, featuring detailed profiles, high-quality photos, and audio calls. Easily identify species offline and track your sightings with this user-friendly app for bird enthusiasts.

Offline bird identification guideDetailed species profilesHigh-resolution bird photos
🔍 Reference
(1)
free with in-app purchases
8
African Bird Club
African Bird Club
African Bird Club
by African Bird Club
Free
📚 Books
(0)
9
Bird Identifier - Birding ID
Bird Identifier - Birding ID
Bird Identifier - Birding ID
Identify birds by picture AI
Free
📚 Education
(0)
10
Project FeederWatch
Project FeederWatch
Project FeederWatch
by Cornell University
Free

Easily report bird sightings from your feeder for scientific research. Track your statistics, access past counts, and learn about local feeder birds. Contribute to a large database that aids conservation efforts.

Report winter bird sightingsTrack sighting statisticsAccess past count archives
📚 Education
(68)
ad-supported
11
Bird QR
Bird QR
Bird QR
by CELLC
Free

Enhance your reading experience with this app that brings bird identification books to life. Access high-definition bird songs, calls, and supplementary information directly from your device. It also connects you to valuable ornithology resources and other helpful birding tools.

Access bird songs and callsStream supplementary contentLink to Merlin Bird ID app
🔍 Reference
(64)
free
12
Bird identifier º
Bird identifier º
Bird identifier º
Bird count - bird call
Free
🎬 Entertainment
(0)
13
中大鳥 Birds of CUHK
中大鳥 Birds of CUHK
中大鳥 Birds of CUHK
by IdeasLab Limited
Free
📚 Education
(0)
14
American Birds Sounds Pro
American Birds Sounds Pro
American Birds Sounds Pro
Birds Sounds, Calls and Songs.
Free

Explore the sounds, calls, and songs of over 1100 North American bird species. This app allows offline listening, personal list creation, field notes, and includes mini-games to help you learn about different birds.

High-quality bird sounds, calls, and songsOffline listening and field notesPersonalized bird lists
📚 Education
(0)
free with in-app purchases
15
Indian Birds
Indian Birds
Indian Birds
Explore Birds of India
Free

Explore India's diverse avian population with this comprehensive field guide. Discover bird names in multiple regional languages, detailed profiles, and identification tools. Enhance your birdwatching experience with widgets and location-based hotspot suggestions.

Bird names in regional Indian languagesDetailed bird profiles (size, habits, diet)Bird identification wizard
📚 Education
(3)
free
16
AOS 2024
AOS 2024
AOS 2024
by The American Ornithological Society
Free
💼 Business
(0)
17
Bird Identifier: Song & Photo
Bird Identifier: Song & Photo
Bird Identifier: Song & Photo
Bird calls, sounds & birding
Free
📚 Education
(0)
18
Bird Identifier - Species ID
Bird Identifier - Species ID
Bird Identifier - Species ID
Avian Finder & Nature Guide
Free

Instantly identify birds from photos using AI. Access a detailed database with information on habitat, diet, and conservation status. Build a personal collection of your sightings and gain educational insights into the avian world.

AI Bird RecognitionExtensive Species DatabaseConservation Status
🔍 Reference
(0)
freemium
19
Seek by iNaturalist
Seek by iNaturalist
Seek by iNaturalist
Identify plants & animals
Free

Identify plants, animals, and fungi using your phone's camera. Learn about the organisms around you and earn badges for your discoveries. It's a fun, kid-safe way to explore nature and expand your knowledge of the living world.

Image recognition for plant and animal identificationLearn about local speciesEarn badges for observations
📚 Education
(31K)
free
20
Birds of South America
Birds of South America
Birds of South America
The Ultimate Bird Guide
$19.99

Explore over 3,100 bird species found in South America with detailed descriptions, images, and an ornithological dictionary. This comprehensive guide works entirely offline, making it perfect for field use.

3,100+ bird species descriptionsOver 5,000 high-quality imagesOrnithological dictionary
🔍 Reference
(1)
paid

FAQ about Cornell Ornithology Lab

What are the best cornell ornithology lab apps for iPhone?
Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab tops our cornell ornithology lab apps ranking as of August 2026, with a 4.9-star average from 111K App Store ratings, and it's free to download.
Yes — 19 of the top cornell ornithology lab apps we rank are free to download, including Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab and eBird.
Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab has no ads and has no in-app purchases, according to its App Store listing as of August 2026.
We track 249+ cornell ornithology lab apps on the iOS App Store as of August 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.