Birdstagram

Beginner guide

Birding apps that do the hard part

Your phone is a field guide, a recorder and a notebook. These free apps are where most birders start.

Merlin Bird ID

From the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Identifies birds from a photo, a few questions, or live sound with Sound ID while you listen. Download the regional bird pack for offline use.

merlin.allaboutbirds.org

eBird

Also from the Cornell Lab. Log checklists of what you saw, keep your life list, and explore hotspots and recent sightings that scientists use for research.

ebird.org

Audubon Bird Guide

A free field guide to North American birds from the National Audubon Society, with photos, range maps and songs.

audubon.org/app

iNaturalist

Post a photo of any living thing and a community of naturalists helps identify it. Good for birds plus everything else on your walk.

inaturalist.org

A simple routine

  1. Hear something? Open Merlin Sound ID and let it listen.
  2. Confirm with your eyes or binoculars before you count it.
  3. Log the walk in eBird so your sightings help science.
  4. Share your best photo on Birdstagram.

Do not play recorded songs to draw birds in at close range, especially in nesting season. See the ethics guide.

Questions people ask

What is the best free app to identify birds by sound?

Merlin Bird ID from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology has Sound ID, which suggests species live as it listens.

What is the difference between Merlin and eBird?

Merlin helps you identify a bird; eBird is where you log what you saw, keep lists and explore sightings and hotspots.

Are birding apps free?

Merlin, eBird, the Audubon Bird Guide and iNaturalist are all free to download and use.

Further reading: Merlin Bird ID · eBird · Audubon Bird Guide app · iNaturalist