# Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab

> Identify Birds You See & Hear

Canonical page: [https://chrome-stats.com/d/id773457673](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id773457673)

## Overview

- **ID:** `id773457673`
- **Platform:** Apple
- **Type:** Apple app
- **Status:** Available
- **Publisher:** Cornell University
- **Category:** Reference
- **Rating:** 4.90 / 5 (111,583 ratings)
- **Version:** 4.1.1
- **Last updated:** 2026-08-24
- **First published:** 2013-12-11
- **Size:** 311 MB
- **Data as of:** 2026-09-03
- **Store listing:** [Apple App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/merlin-bird-id-by-cornell-lab/id773457673)
- **Website:** [http://merlin.allaboutbirds.org](http://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/)
- **Privacy policy:** [http://www.birds.cornell.edu/Page.aspx?pid=1635](http://www.birds.cornell.edu/Page.aspx?pid=1635)

## Description

Merlin Bird ID by the Cornell Lab is the world's leading bird identification app. It helps you identify birds you see and hear using four simple options: answer a few questions, upload a photo, record a singing bird, or explore birds by region. Powered by Visipedia and eBird data, Merlin's Photo ID and Sound ID rely on machine learning and expert curation to deliver accurate results.

Merlin also offers rich content: bird photos, songs, and calls from around the world, plus features like a personalized Bird of the Day, region-based lists, and a log to track your sightings. The Cornell Lab's mission to interpret and conserve Earth's biodiversity underpins Merlin, and the app is free thanks to members and citizen scientists.

## Rankings

- #3,282 — Overall
- #7 — Essential Reference Apps
- #22 — Summertime Essentials
- #1 — merlin
- #4 — reference
- #7 — nature

## Review summary

Merlin Bird ID is praised for accurate sound and photo ID, educational value, and a clean, ad-free UI, plus usefulness for EBird reporting. The main recurring drawbacks are the autosave removal causing data loss, stability issues like freezing, location/save glitches, and a more cumbersome save/discard workflow after updates. Overall, strong identification and learning features are offset by reliability and saving}\_issues introduced by updates.

### Pros

- Highly accurate sound ID and reliable photo ID.
- Strong educational value: helps users learn bird songs/calls and improves birdwatching.
- Clean, simple, ad-free UI that is easy to use.
- Useful for EBird reporting and citizen-science contributions.
- Shows birds in your area and highlights likely matches, aiding identification.

### Cons

- Autosave removal leads to data loss unless users manually save; many reviews mention this risk.
- Frequent stability issues: app freezes or performs slowly, especially when handling recordings.
- Location and saving glitches: issues with saving recordings or location settings not being accepted.
- Changed save/discard UX after updates, creating friction and increasing chances of losing data.

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Source: [Chrome-Stats](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id773457673)