Bird ID Apps
Identify any bird in 5 seconds.
Merlin Bird ID (Cornell)
FREEFree. Identifies birds by photo, song, OR description. Best app — period. From Cornell Lab.
Best overall.
eBird (Cornell)
FREETrack every bird you see. Hotspot finder. Citizen science.
Best for tracking.
iNaturalist
FREEIdentifies ANY plant, bird, insect, fungus by photo. Community-verified.
Best all-nature.
Audubon Bird Guide
FREEField guide app. Range maps, habitats, songs.
Best field guide.
Picture Bird
$30-40/yearEasier UI than Merlin for some seniors. Less accurate but smoother.
Best simple UI.
Merlin walkthrough
- Download Merlin Bird ID (free).
- Download "Bird Pack" for your region (one time, then offline).
- 3 ways to identify:
- "Sound ID" — tap, hold phone toward bird. App listens, shows possible species in real time.
- "Photo ID" — snap or upload photo. Match in seconds.
- "Step-by-step" — color, size, location. Narrows down.
- Save sightings to "Life List".
- Share sightings to eBird automatically.
Best gear for backyard birding
- Bird feeder — tube or hopper, $20-40.
- Birds' favorite seed — black oil sunflower (universal). $20 for 20 lbs at Costco.
- Suet cage — for woodpeckers, $5.
- Hummingbird feeder — $15. Sugar water (4:1) only — never red dye.
- Birdbath — drinking + bathing.
- Smart bird feeder camera (Bird Buddy, NetVue) — $200-300, photographs every visitor automatically.
Help science
eBird users contribute to the largest bird-population database on Earth. Your backyard sightings help scientists track migrations and threatened species. Free citizen science. Cornell uses your data for real research.