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Best Free Bird Song Identification Apps

246+ iOS apps curated and reviewed

4.6 avg rating
19 free apps
Updated September 2026

Looking for free free bird song identification apps? 19 of our 246+ tracked titles are free to download — no subscription, no trial. The rest are premium picks worth paying for.

Compare top Free Bird Song Identification Apps (September 2026)

#AppPriceRatingAdsIn-App PurchasesUpdated
1Merlin Bird ID by Cornell LabMerlin Bird ID by Cornell LabFree4.9★ (111K)NoNoSep 2026
2Picture Bird: Bird identifierPicture Bird: Bird identifierFree4.7★ (40K)NoYesSep 2026
3Audubon Bird GuideAudubon Bird GuideFree4.3★ (4.5K)YesNoSep 2026
4Smart Bird ID: Identify BirdsSmart Bird ID: Identify BirdsFree4.7★ (17K)NoYesSep 2026
5Bird Songs AppBird Songs AppFree—NoNoJul 2026
6Bird Sounds Identifier Call IDBird Sounds Identifier Call IDFree4.7★ (14K)YesYesSep 2026
7Pica PicaPica PicaFree——NoJul 2026
8Bird Finder - Bird IdentifierBird Finder - Bird IdentifierFree—YesNoSep 2026

Top Picks for Free Bird Song 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
#21in 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
  • 👍 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
Picture Bird: Bird identifier#2

Picture Bird: Bird identifier by Next Vision Limited

Bird Sound & Image ID, Birding
Strong Contender
🔍 Reference
4.7😐(40K ratings)
FreeIn-App Purchases
#56in Reference
Picture Bird: Bird identifier screenshot 1
Picture Bird: Bird identifier screenshot 2
Picture Bird: Bird identifier screenshot 3
Picture Bird: Bird identifier screenshot 4
Picture Bird: Bird identifier screenshot 5
Picture Bird: Bird identifier screenshot 6

Identify birds by photo or sound with this smart app. Access detailed information, learn about bird feeding, and manage your sightings. It's a comprehensive tool for bird enthusiasts of all levels.

What We Love

  • 🚀 Accurate identification
  • 👍 Easy to use
  • 💡 Helpful information about birds
  • 🚀 Ability to identify from photos and sounds
  • 👍 Saves bird sightings
  • 💡 Useful for birdwatching

Room to Improve

  • 🐛 Inconsistent identification accuracy
  • 🔒 Misleading subscription model
  • 🐛 Incorrect identification of common birds
  • 🐛 Struggles with distant or obscured birds
  • 💰 Expensive subscription cost
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
  • 📍 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

More Free Bird Song Identification apps to explore

FAQ about Free Bird Song Identification

What are the best free bird song identification apps for iPhone?
Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab tops our free bird song identification apps ranking as of September 2026, with a 4.9-star average from 111K App Store ratings, and it's free to download.
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 246+ free bird song 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.