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Best Merlin Bird Identification App

245+ iOS apps curated and reviewed

4.6 avg rating
20 free apps
Updated August 2026

With an average user rating of 4.6★, the merlin bird identification app category is one of the App Store's strongest. Browse all 245+ apps we track, sorted so the most loved ones surface first.

Compare top Merlin Bird Identification App (August 2026)

#AppPriceRatingAdsIn-App PurchasesUpdated
1Merlin Bird ID by Cornell LabMerlin Bird ID by Cornell LabFree4.9★ (111K)NoNoAug 2026
2Audubon Bird GuideAudubon Bird GuideFree4.3★ (4.5K)YesNoAug 2026
3Identify Birds – Smart Bird IDIdentify Birds – Smart Bird IDFree4.7★ (17K)NoYesAug 2026
4Seek by iNaturalistSeek by iNaturalistFree4.8★ (31K)NoNoAug 2026
5Bird Identifier — BirdPulseBird Identifier — BirdPulseFree—NoNoJul 2026
6Bird Identifier: RoostlyBird Identifier: RoostlyFree4.5★ (1.9K)NoYesAug 2026
7Bird Sounds Identifier Call IDBird Sounds Identifier Call IDFree4.7★ (13K)YesYesAug 2026
8Picture Bird: Bird identifierPicture Bird: Bird identifierFree4.7★ (40K)NoYesAug 2026

Top Picks for Merlin Bird Identification App

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
#11in 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
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
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
Identify Birds – Smart Bird ID#3

Identify Birds – Smart Bird ID by Yellow Cardinal Inc.

From photo or sound. Instantly
Worth Considering
📚 Education
4.7😊(17K ratings)
FreeIn-App Purchases
Identify Birds – Smart Bird ID screenshot 1
Identify Birds – Smart Bird ID screenshot 2
Identify Birds – Smart Bird ID screenshot 3
Identify Birds – Smart Bird ID screenshot 4
Identify Birds – Smart Bird ID screenshot 5
Identify Birds – Smart Bird ID screenshot 6

Instantly identify birds from photos or sounds. Explore a global bird guide, learn through interactive challenges and courses, and log your sightings. Connect with a community of bird watchers and collect animated stickers.

What We Love

  • 🚀 Terrific app for identifying birds
  • 👍 Helpful for learning about birds
  • 👍 Easy to use and navigate
  • 👍 Provides detailed information on birds

Room to Improve

  • 🐛 Occasional bugs and glitches
  • 💰 Some features locked behind paywall
  • 🔍 Difficulty isolating bird sounds in noisy environments

More Merlin Bird Identification App apps to explore

4
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
5
Bird Identifier — BirdPulse
Bird Identifier — BirdPulse
Bird Identifier — BirdPulse
Photo and Song ID Field Guide
Free
🔍 Reference
(0)
6
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
7
Bird Sounds Identifier Call ID
Bird Sounds Identifier Call ID
Bird Sounds Identifier Call ID
Bird Identifier By Sound, Song
Free

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.

Identify birds by pictureIdentify birds by soundRecognize 10,000+ bird species
🔍 Reference
(13K)
free with in-app purchases
8
Picture Bird: Bird identifier
Picture Bird: Bird identifier
Picture Bird: Bird identifier
Bird Sound & Image ID, Birding
Free

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.

Accurate bird identification by photo or soundBirding camera with automatic sharpeningBird feeding guidance and tips
🔍 Reference
(40K)
free with in-app purchases
9
[bird identifier] by Birdby
[bird identifier] by Birdby
[bird identifier] by Birdby
Photo & Sound Identification
Free
🔍 Reference
(0)
10
Bird Identifier: Bird Sound ID
Bird Identifier: Bird Sound ID
Bird Identifier: Bird Sound ID
Bird Call Identification App
Free

Instantly identify birds by their song or a photo using advanced AI. Get detailed information and ask an AI chatbot questions about bird species, habitats, and behaviors. Perfect for beginners and experts alike.

AI bird sound recognitionBird identification by photoAI chatbot for bird knowledge
📚 Education
(1)
free with in-app purchases
11
Bird ID - Call Identification
Bird ID - Call Identification
Bird ID - Call Identification
Sounds & Picture Identifier
Free

Identify birds by their appearance or song with this smart utility. It provides detailed information on species, saves your discoveries, and turns any outing into a nature exploration.

Instant recognition by photoVoice recording and analysisHistory of searches
🔧 Utilities
(16)
subscription
12
Bird Scanner - 10,000+ Birds
Bird Scanner - 10,000+ Birds
Bird Scanner - 10,000+ Birds
Search a bird with AI Camera
Free

Identify birds using your camera or by uploading a photo. Explore a vast database of over 10,000 species, categorized by family and genre. Discover a new bird each day with a special feature.

AI camera bird identificationIdentify birds by photoBrowse birds by family
📚 Education
(1)
free
13
Bird Call Identification App
Bird Call Identification App
Bird Call Identification App
Bird identifier sounds & song
Free
🔍 Reference
(0)
14
Ptashka: Bird Sonar
Ptashka: Bird Sonar
Ptashka: Bird Sonar
Find out which bird is singing
Free

Identify birds by their songs using advanced AI, even without an internet connection. Map your past sightings and explore detailed information on over 6,000 species worldwide to enhance your birdwatching adventures.

Offline bird identification by songAI-powered species recognitionObservation mapping of sightings
🔍 Reference
(1)
free
15
Identify Bird
Identify Bird
Identify Bird
Bird Identifier by photo
Free

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.

Effortless bird identification from photosExtensive global bird species databaseLearn bird diet and behavior
📚 Education
(0)
free with in-app purchases
16
Bird Sound Identifier - Ornis
Bird Sound Identifier - Ornis
Bird Sound Identifier - Ornis
Identify Birds Song & Call ID
Free

Identify birds by photo or sound using advanced AI. Access detailed information, explore bird activity maps, and discover endangered species. Get personalized recommendations and save your discoveries.

Identify birds by photo or soundComprehensive bird informationInteractive bird activity maps
🔍 Reference
(5)
free with in-app purchases
17
Bird Identifier: Photo AI
Bird Identifier: Photo AI
Bird Identifier: Photo AI
Instant bird ID from Pictures
Free
🔍 Reference
(0)
18
Lyrebird: Bird Identifier
Lyrebird: Bird Identifier
Lyrebird: Bird Identifier
Scan photo & sound to ID birds
Free
📊 Productivity
(0)
19
Identify Bird Calls - Trillix
Identify Bird Calls - Trillix
Identify Bird Calls - Trillix
Bird Call Identification
Free
🔍 Reference
(0)
20
Bird identifier º
Bird identifier º
Bird identifier º
Bird count - bird call
Free
🎬 Entertainment
(0)

FAQ about Merlin Bird Identification App

What is the best merlin bird identification app for iPhone?
Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab tops our merlin bird identification app ranking as of August 2026, with a 4.9-star average from 111K App Store ratings, and it's free to download.
Yes — 20 of the top merlin bird identification app 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 August 2026.
We track 245+ merlin bird identification app 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.