Best Merlin Bird App Free

250+ iOS apps curated and reviewed

4.7 avg rating
20 free apps
Updated October 2026

Every iPhone needs a few good merlin bird app free. We benchmark 250+ of them on App Store rating, freshness, and pricing, then surface the standouts so you don't have to scroll the App Store yourself.

Compare top Merlin Bird App Free (October 2026)

#AppPriceRatingAdsIn-App PurchasesUpdated
1Merlin Bird ID by Cornell LabMerlin Bird ID by Cornell LabFree4.9β˜… (114K)NoNoOct 2026
2Bird Sounds Identifier Call IDBird Sounds Identifier Call IDFree4.7β˜… (14K)YesYesOct 2026
3Picture Bird: Bird identifierPicture Bird: Bird identifierFree4.7β˜… (40K)NoYesOct 2026
4Audubon Bird GuideAudubon Bird GuideFree4.3β˜… (4.5K)YesNoOct 2026
5Bird Song Identifier・Sounds IDBird Song Identifier・Sounds IDFree4.9β˜… (34)NoYesOct 2026
6eBirdeBirdFree3.8β˜… (803)NoNoOct 2026
7BirdNETBirdNETFree4.0β˜… (212)NoNoOct 2026
8Smart Bird ID: Identify BirdsSmart Bird ID: Identify BirdsFree4.7β˜… (17K)NoYesOct 2026

Top Picks for Merlin Bird App Free

Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab#1

Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab by Cornell University

Identify Birds You See & Hear
Editor's Choice
πŸ” Reference
4.9😊(114K ratings)
Free
#25in 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

  • πŸš€ Helpful for bird identification
  • πŸ”’ Accurate bird identification
  • πŸ‘ Easy to use
  • πŸ‘ Useful for beginners and experts
  • πŸ‘ Enjoyable and fun to use
  • πŸ‘ Comprehensive bird information
  • πŸ‘ Excellent sound identification feature
  • πŸ‘ Connects with eBird
  • πŸ‘ Free app with no ads

Room to Improve

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

Bird Sounds Identifier Call ID by Nhu Nguyen Thi

Bird Identifier By Sound, Song
Strong Contender
πŸ” Reference
4.7😞(14K ratings)
FreeAdsIn-App Purchases
#94in Reference
Bird Sounds Identifier Call ID screenshot 1
Bird Sounds Identifier Call ID screenshot 2
Bird Sounds Identifier Call ID screenshot 3
Bird Sounds Identifier Call ID screenshot 4
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

  • πŸš€ Accurate bird identification
  • πŸ‘ Helpful for bird enthusiasts
  • 🌟 Impressive app overall
  • πŸŽ‰ Great for learning about birds

Room to Improve

  • πŸ› Inaccurate bird identification
  • πŸ’° Expensive subscription
  • πŸ€– Overly aggressive upselling
  • πŸ€” Limited functionality in free version
  • 🌍 Not suitable for non-North American users
Picture Bird: Bird identifier#3

Picture Bird: Bird identifier by Next Vision Limited

Bird Sound & Image ID, Birding
Worth Considering
πŸ” Reference
4.7😐(40K ratings)
FreeIn-App Purchases
#57in 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

  • πŸš€ Accurate identification
  • πŸ‘ Easy to use
  • πŸ’‘ Helpful information about birds
  • πŸš€ Ability to identify from photos and sounds
  • πŸ‘ Saves bird sightings
  • πŸ’‘ Useful for birdwatching

Room to Improve

  • πŸ› Inconsistent identification accuracy
  • πŸ”’ Misleading subscription model
  • πŸ› Incorrect identification of common birds
  • πŸ› Struggles with distant or obscured birds
  • πŸ’° Expensive subscription cost

More Merlin Bird App Free apps to explore

FAQ about Merlin Bird App Free

What is the best merlin bird app free for iPhone?
Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab tops our merlin bird app free ranking as of October 2026, with a 4.9-star average from 114K 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 October 2026.
We track 250+ merlin bird app free on the iOS App Store as of October 2026, ranked by rating, recency, and analysis of real user reviews.