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Best Merlin Bird Identification Apps

249+ iOS apps curated and reviewed

4.3 avg rating
20 free apps
Updated September 2026

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

Compare top Merlin Bird Identification Apps (September 2026)

#AppPriceRatingAdsIn-App PurchasesUpdated
1Merlin Bird ID by Cornell LabMerlin Bird ID by Cornell LabFree4.9★ (113K)NoNoOct 2026
2Audubon Bird GuideAudubon Bird GuideFree4.3★ (4.5K)YesNoOct 2026
3Identify BirdIdentify BirdFree—YesYesMay 2026
4Bird Identifier: RoostlyBird Identifier: RoostlyFree4.5★ (1.9K)NoYesSep 2026
5Smart Bird ID: Identify BirdsSmart Bird ID: Identify BirdsFree4.7★ (17K)NoYesOct 2026
6Raptor IDRaptor IDFree4.5★ (44)YesNoAug 2026
7[bird identifier] by Birdby[bird identifier] by BirdbyFree—NoYesSep 2026
8Bird Identifier BirdSnapBird Identifier BirdSnapFree—NoYesMay 2026

Top Picks for Merlin Bird 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😊(113K ratings)
Free
#14in Reference
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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
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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
Identify Bird#3

Identify Bird by Faravaree lab

Bird Identifier by photo
Worth Considering
📚 Education
0.0(0 ratings)
FreeAdsIn-App Purchases
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Effortlessly identify birds from photos with an extensive database and detailed information on diet and behavior. Access educational resources to enhance your bird watching knowledge and skills. Designed for ease of use for all nature enthusiasts.

More Merlin Bird Identification apps to explore

FAQ about Merlin Bird Identification

What are the best merlin bird identification apps for iPhone?
Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab tops our merlin bird identification apps ranking as of September 2026, with a 4.9-star average from 113K App Store ratings, and it's free to download.
Yes — 20 of the top merlin bird 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 249+ merlin bird identification apps on the iOS App Store as of September 2026, ranked by rating, recency, and analysis of real user reviews.