The Latest in Bird Tech

The morning air is crisp, carrying the scent of pine needles and damp earth as I step onto the trail. The sun peeks through the towering trees, casting golden rays across the forest floor. A gentle breeze rustles the leaves, and somewhere in the distance, a bird lets out a melody so clear and sweet it stops me in my tracks. It’s a sound I’ve heard before, but I have no idea what kind of bird it is.

That’s where the Merlin Bird ID app comes in.

For anyone who’s ever stood in the middle of a lush, green meadow, captivated by birdsong but clueless about the singer, this app is a game-changer. Developed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Merlin is like having a personal bird expert tucked away in your pocket. Whether you’re deep in the woods, strolling through a city park, or just watching birds from your backyard, this app transforms any outdoor adventure into a fascinating lesson in bird identification.

A Simple Start to Bird Identification

The first time I used the Merlin Bird ID app, I was skeptical. Could an app really help me identify a bird just by sound? I opened it up, tapped the Sound feature, and waited for the birds. A moment later, the app displayed a list of birds it had detected, complete with their photos and names. At the top of the list: American Robin. The app also provides the scientific name, so naturally I giggled when Turdus migratorius popped up. I tapped on ol’ Turdus, and Merlin played a recorded version of its call—an exact match to what I was hearing.

It felt like magic.

Merlin can also identify birds by photo or a few simple questions. If you spot an unfamiliar bird, just snap a picture, upload it to the app, and let Merlin work its magic. No picture? No problem. The Step-by-Step ID feature walks you through a series of easy questions: What size was the bird? What were its main colors? Where did you see it? Within seconds, the app provides a list of possible matches, turning even a total beginner into a capable birdwatcher.

Exploring the Outdoors with Merlin

One of the best things about the Merlin Bird ID app is how it deepens your appreciation for nature. Before using it, I’d go on hikes and barely notice the birds flitting through the trees. Now, every trail feels like a new adventure, a mystery waiting to be solved. Literally every walk is now ALSO a birding excursion.

Take my last trip to the Lake Erie shoreline. The trail was still soggy from a recent spring rain. Seagulls wheeled overhead and Red-Winged Blackbirds announced my arrival, their cries echoing against the blue sky. But beneath their raucous calls, another persistent song drifted through the air. I pulled out my phone, opened Merlin, and hit Sound ID. Within moments, the app identified the call: Carolina Wren.

We followed the sound to a nearby hickory and spotted it about 50′ up on a branch. I never would have noticed it before, but now, thanks to Merlin, it felt like I had uncovered a hidden treasure.

Life Lists: Real World Pokémon

Merlin isn’t just a tool; it’s a companion. Whether I’m kayaking through marshy wetlands or sitting on my porch with a cup of coffee, the app turns any moment into an opportunity for discovery and growth.

The Merlin Bird ID app also tracks all the birds you’ve heard. When I spent a few days at a cabin in northern Michigan, I knew this was my chance for a new set of birds not otherwise near me. One morning, as the fog still clung to the surface of the lake, I took my kayak out onto the water. The lake was a sheet of glass, perfectly still except for the occasional ripple of a fish breaking the surface. Then, from the far side of the shore, came a deep, eerie call—like a wolf’s howl but softer, more haunting. A Common Loon.

I checked Merlin, and sure enough, its Sound ID confirmed my guess. I clicked on “This is my bird” and Merlin announced that the loon was a New Lifer! It keeps a log of every new bird, the date you saw it, and it’s location. You can add all your birds to this log or just new ones. You can also add birds even if you didn’t hear them. Just find them in the Explore feature and add them from there. This is how I added Wild Turkeys even when they weren’t gobbling.

The Life List has become one of my favorite aspects of the Merlin Bird ID app. Whenever we hear a new bird or travel somewhere full of different types of birds, our excitement is centered around adding birds to our Life List. It really is like real world Pokémon.

Why Merlin Stands Out

There are other bird identification apps out there, but the Merlin Bird ID app’s combination of ease, accuracy, and sheer depth of information sets it apart. Here’s why it’s my go-to:

• Free and Easy to Use: No subscriptions, no hidden fees—just pure, simple bird identification at your fingertips.
• Multiple ID Methods: Whether by sound, photo, or description, the app provides multiple ways to identify birds.
• Life List: Tracking birds you’ve seen or heard has never been easier.
• Local Bird Packs: Downloadable bird packs tailored to different regions make it easy to identify species no matter where you are in the world.
• Educational & Fun: Not only does it help identify birds, but it also provides detailed information about each species, including habitat, behavior, and calls.

The Downsides

There are only a few downsides to the app:

• The downloadable bird packs are quite large and take up a significant amount of precious phone space. The US Midwest pack that I use is 747 MB, and most of the US regional packs are almost 1 GB. The entire US and Canada: Continental pack is 1.31 GB. I completely understand why they’re so big, but it’s a bit of a commitment.
• International travel gets a little tricky. Merlin will still identify birds, but unless you download a new bird pack, you won’t be able to see extra information about them. Furthermore, if you’re not connected via a cellular network, you won’t be able to save new Life List birds (unless you’re listening from a patio with wifi). It turns out you MUST have an internet connection in order to save new birds to your Life List. I hadn’t even noticed at home, but it became a disappointment while traveling.
• As the app is listening, it’s also creating a large sound file. They’re easy enough to delete, but I don’t want it. Maybe MAYBE there might be a day where I want to listen to it again, but I think I’d rather it just listen and identify, not record.
• If the app can identify birds, it can certainly identify insects and amphibians. I would love to learn about the various other creatures that surround me.

A New Way to Connect with Nature

Merlin has changed the way I experience the outdoors. I used to walk through forests, beaches, and meadows without paying much attention to the feathered creatures around me. Now, I see them everywhere—a flash of blue darting through the trees (Indigo Bunting), a tiny brown bird hopping along the trail (House Wren), a high-pitched trill ringing through the air (Chipping Sparrow).

And every time I identify a new bird, it feels like adding a new piece to the puzzle of the natural world.

So, if you’ve ever been curious about the birds in your backyard, if you’ve ever heard a song in the distance and wondered who was singing, or if you’re just looking for a new way to appreciate nature—download the Merlin Bird ID app.

It’s not just an app. It’s an invitation to see, hear, and connect with the world in a whole new way.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5 Stars – A Must-Have for Nature Lovers