Merlin Bird ID App - Amazing! (2 Viewers)

[DBK]

I've unashamedly put "Amazing!" in the title just to attract your attention - but this FREE app really is amazing.

Created by the Cornell University the app is able to identify birds with surprising accuracy from either their song or a photograph you have taken.

I've only just downloaded it but my brother, a very keen birder, has used the app for a while and confirms it is very accurate, for example identifying a Siskin from its call alone. Obviously, you need to see the bird to be sure and the app shows you a photo of the bird which you can compare with the view through your binoculars to confirm the ID.

Having only just downloaded it I haven't tried the sound ID yet, which uses your device's microphone but I did try the photo ID function. A Black winged stilt it had no problem with so I tried it on something a little trickier. On a trip in Spain to the Monfragüe National Park a few years ago I managed to take a photo of a Cinerous Vulture, also known as the Black Vulture. It looks very like the common Griffon which is everywhere in Spain and to be honest I only know it was a Cinerous because we had a guide with us. . But the app didn't hesitate with identifying the bird, it came up with the correct answer straight away.

Available free (did I mention that?) in Android and iOS versions it offers different packages and I suggest you go for the Europe one, not just UK as this pack is only slightly bigger. Setting up is a bit of a palaver with an initial email verification process then an account creation but once done it all seems to work.

It does need a bit of space, a bit less than 1Gb with the Europe pack.

I'll be trying the sound function in the coming days.

 

[chaser]

I have used this for about 6 months now and pretty much know what bird it is if I can see it but the sound id is amazing as I must admit one bit of bird song is like any other to me , but I have found if you get it working it will come up with some bird then if you concentrate you can hear it and would never be able to discern it otherwise.

 

[Lenny HB]

I started using it last year on another Funsters recommendation, I've only use on sound appears to work well.

 

[Zoobec]

It is really good, used it in the uk and Madeira and it’s been great

 

[Pausim]

On this mornings walk it identified the call of a green woodpecker for me. We couldn’t see the bird but were curious about what was calling. Great app, it has picked up and identified reed warblers and tree creepers just from their singing.

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[Riverbankannie]

I started using it last year on another Funsters recommendation, I've only use on sound appears to work well.

Me too. I really like it but I was frustrated when it detected a Kingfisher call but I didn’t see it.

 

[Grianan]

I have only used it on sound so far but found it great too.

 

[Tombola]

I used on on recommend from here too 6 months back. Marvellous.

It detected a scouse warbler bird in witherspoon last week too..making a right din she was mid afternoon, i think the bird bath must have been a bit strong that day
..

Caught and released outside after 5 mins, by the black uniformed catch and release squad followed by a flock of angry birds
(True...u can t beat wethers)

 

[Norfolk Nige]

Been using it for the past year. It’s a really good and useful app

 

[JoshnPen]

I've got this too, love it.

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[bellabee]

We really like it, too. We've been using it since last spring.

 

[Peavy]

I have just discovered this and I'm hooked
Never been interested in birds before, but since we have the van, we're discovering new interests

 

[dunnah01]

I'll try it on the kookaburra next door (don't ask )

 

[hja]

I am useless at identifying birds by their sounds, even the ones we get all the time in the garden, with one of two exceptions. But I have been using Merlin for a while, really like it.

 

[Guigsy]

BirdNet is similar. I think it's slightly more reliable. Correctly picked out blue tits, gold finches from the inner city noise and the continuous gull screeching.

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[Wendo55]

Love this app but at the moment I'm hooked on watching the various webcams looking at the peregrine falcons nesting above us in cathedrals and high buildings. There'll be one near you now! Just Google peregrine webcams.
Amazing to watch once they've hatched, eg in Derby where you can see mum and dad feeding 3 chicks but my local one (Rochdale Town Hall) is boring as she's still sat on 3 eggs and doing nothing. Hope something happens soon!

 

[Pilote87]

I've not tried the app, but it may well have been confused by a bird call I heard this afternoon. It was like a cuckoo with a stammer . . . cuck-cuck-oo . I've not heard that before.

John

 

[DuxDeluxe]

I use it a lot. Absolutely first class

 

[Madcaravanner]

I have been using it for 18 months together with eBird to record my sightings and I have found it pointing me to birds I wasn't expecting
in Spain it pointed out a warbler that I didn't know worked out where it was and got pictures so I'm happy with it