Bird watching has become an increasingly popular hobby over the past few decades. With over 10,000 species of birds in the world, being able to identify the different types of birds can be challenging for amateur bird watchers. Luckily, modern technology has made it easier than ever to identify unknown birds in just a few seconds using smartphone apps. These bird identification apps allow users to take a photo of a bird they see and get an instant analysis on what species it is likely to be. For bird watching enthusiasts, this is an invaluable tool to enhance the hobby and learn more about the different birds living in their area.
Top Bird Identification Apps
There are a number of great bird identification apps to choose from. Here are some of the top options:
Merlin Bird ID
Merlin Bird ID is one of the most popular and capable bird identification apps available. Developed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, it has an extensive database of over 6,000 bird species from around the world. Users can either take a photo of the unknown bird or answer a few simple questions about it like location and basic appearance. The app will then provide likely matches, displaying photos and information to confirm the species. For common backyard birds in North America, the results are very accurate. An additional benefit of Merlin is that the app records and stores all of your sightings if you create a free account.
iNaturalist
iNaturalist is a community-powered app where users can record and share observations of any type of wildlife. While birds make up a large portion of observations, it can also identify species of plants, insects, amphibians, and more. When taking a photo, suggest identifications will be provided based on visual recognition technology. Then the observation will be shared with the iNaturalist community, where other users can confirm or improve the ID. Users can also provide additional information like location, time seen, and behaviors observed. All observations are saved and documented, allowing you to track and study the biodiversity around you.
eBird Mobile
Developed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the eBird Mobile app allows bird watchers to log bird sightings and explore recent observations from around the world. The app contains information and photos for over 1000 bird species. While it doesn’t have automatic photo identification capabilities, users can search through species checklists and detailed information to manually identify birds they cannot recognize. eBird allows users to keep detailed records of when and where birds are sighted, contributing data for scientists studying bird distributions and migration patterns.
Seek by iNaturalist
A simplified version of iNaturalist, Seek allows you to take a photo of any plant or animal and get an instant ID for common species. The app uses AI technology to match your photo with species in its extensive catalog. Seek by iNaturalist can identify birds, plants, insects, reptiles, amphibians, and more. On top of rapid species recognition, it includes information and range maps for each species. The explore section allows you to browse through recent observations nearby and around the globe.
Audubon Bird Guide App
Created by the National Audubon Society, this free app helps identify birds across North America. It contains photographs and recordings for over 800 species. Users can browse by color or filter by location and time of year to get recommendations for birds likely to be seen. Detailed species accounts provide information like range, behavior, habitat, and conservation status. The app also allows users to log bird sightings, share photos and audio, and keep track of lists like birds seen on a specific day.
Larkwire
While Larkwire doesnâ€TMt have photo identification capabilities, it is one of the best apps for learning bird songs and calls. The app has an extensive collection of recordings for common bird species. It uses interactive quizzes and memorization tools to help test your ability to recognize birds by ear. This is helpful for identifying tricky bird species that look very similar. Larkwire has options for both visual and audio-only quizzes. Paying for a full subscription provides access to unlimited quizzes for all species.
Peterson Birds of North America
For a more traditional field guide experience, the Peterson Birds of North America app provides extensive details, range maps, and illustrations for over 800 bird species. It includes recordings of songs and calls for most species. Users can browse by taxonomy, region, alphabetically or using the visual index. Detailed accounts cover identification features, distribution, habitat, and behaviors. While the app doesnâ€TMt have AI-powered automatic recognition, its thorough illustrated guide makes it easy to manually identify species.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Bird ID App
With so many options to choose from, it can be hard to decide what the best bird identification app is for your needs. Here are some key factors to consider when selecting an app:
Your Geographic Location
Most bird ID apps are designed regionally for a specific part of the world. For example, Merlin Bird ID covers birds in the United States and Canada. Make sure to choose an app that covers bird species found in your area. Using a global app can provide unnecessary suggestions for birds that donâ€TMt live near you.
Ability to Identify Birds Visually
The top feature of most bird identification apps is the ability to take a photo and get instant help recognizing the species. If you want to photograph an unknown bird and get species suggestions, choose an app like Merlin that can analyze the image and match it against a catalog of bird photos.
Ability to Identify Bird Sounds
Listening to bird vocalizations can be just as important as visual recognition. Apps like Larkwire focus specifically on training your ear to identify species from songs and calls. This is especially helpful for similar-looking birds that sound different. Consider an app with bird audio identification if you want to hone your listening skills.
Number of Species Included
Some apps offer information on a couple hundred species, while others have thousands in their database. Think about how comprehensive you need the app to be. A tool like iNaturalist covers most species globally, while a region-specific app may be sufficient if you only want to identify common backyard birds.
Opportunity to Contribute Data
Apps like eBird and iNaturalist allow users to log sightings which scientists can then use for research. If you want to have your observations used as data for ornithology and conservation, choose a community-focused app.
Offline Accessibility
Many bird ID apps work without an internet connection, relying on an installed database for identification. This is useful if you are in a remote area without signal. Just be sure to download the offline data before heading out into the field.
Price
Cost varies significantly depending on the app. Some popular options like Merlin Bird ID are completely free, while more comprehensive apps like Peterson Birds of North America cost up to $15. Think about how much you plan to use the app when factoring price into your decision.
Using Bird ID Apps Effectively
While bird identification apps provide a powerful tool, simply uploading a poor photo or audio clip doesn’t guarantee useful results. Follow these tips to get the most out of your birding app experience:
- Take clear, close-up photos in good lighting. Full-body shots are ideal.
- Be patient allowing birds time to turn and provide multiple angles.
- Record calls and songs for several seconds to capture diagnostics.
- Enter all relevant information like location, date, behaviors.
- Take notes and compare similar species to hone your identification skills.
- Use apps to complement field guides and expert knowledge, not replace them.
The Benefits of Birding Apps for Enthusiasts
Bird identification apps provide many benefits for birding enthusiasts. Some key advantages include:
- Instantly identifying difficult, unfamiliar birds.
- Providing supplemental information to learn more about species.
- Building identification skills by comparing similar species.
- Logging locations and dates birds are sighted.
- Enhancing bird walks by enabling in-the-field identification.
- Linking users to a community of other birders.
- Contributing data to ornithology and conservation efforts.
For casual bird watchers and experts alike, bird ID apps are invaluable for making observations easier and gleaning more enjoyment from bird watching. The technology makes it simpler than ever to put a name to the birds encountered.
Conclusion
Bird identification apps utilize image and audio recognition technology to provide instant help identifying unknown birds. Top options like Merlin Bird ID can suggest possible matches when you upload a photo of a bird. Other specialized apps help learn bird songs or provide detailed species accounts and illustrations. When choosing a bird ID app, consider your location, desired features, number of species and more. Using the apps effectively requires collecting high-quality photos, recordings and observation details. Overall, birding apps allow enthusiasts to rapidly identify birds in the field, improving their skills while contributing data to science. So download a bird identification app today, and discover new birds wherever your explorations take you!