Impress your friends and learn how to identify birds by their calls with one of the best bird song identification apps — suitable for all age ranges.
Whether you’re an experienced birder or just beginning your birdwatching journey, using one of the best bird identification apps can greatly improve your ability to recognize and enjoy different bird species. These apps function like interactive digital field guides, offering instant suggestions based on photos or audio recordings you submit — a major step up from traditional guidebooks.
According to Alli Smith, Merlin Project Manager, these tools are invaluable:
“Field guide apps are so helpful for learning about what birds can be found in specific places at specific times of the year. There are 11,000+ species of birds in the world, each with unique ranges and migration patterns. Having a quick reference with range maps for each species makes identifying what you see much easier.”
While spotting birds with the naked eye is possible, a bird ID app like the ones we recommend below can enrich your experience. Pairing an app with birdwatching binoculars or even a monocular will help you identify distant species more easily.
If you’re looking for a tool that covers both birdwatching and stargazing, check out our best binoculars guide, where we review multipurpose models tested by our experts.
In this guide, we’ll cover the top bird identification apps, their features, and what makes each one unique. Whether you’re seeking real-time audio recognition, advanced photo matching, or interactive bird lists, you’ll find the perfect app to suit your style of birding.