The Pelian-- Merlin Bird ID: The Tool that could Change your Birding Experience!

By Kentia Kalanaki

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by bird calls while birding, unsure which call belongs to which bird? You’re not alone!
Learning to identify birds by sound can be challenging, especially since you can’t see bird sounds side by side in a field guide for easy comparison. However, there is a tool that can help you navigate the world of bird sounds: Merlin Bird ID!


Merlin is an app developed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. It identifies bird sounds in real time—just record the sounds with your phone while you’re birding! The app also features photo identification and works offline. Its downloadable “bird packs” provide offline access to pictures of birds, sound collections, range maps, and descriptions of birds in your area.


Merlin is also connected to eBird, another platform managed by the Cornell Lab that tracks bird sightings in checklists. Once you use Merlin to record bird songs and confirm their identification, it will automatically submit the data to eBird, making checklist submission much easier.
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The app is available on Android and iOS devices, so make sure to check it out for a new birding experience! 
See more about merlin on the Cornell Lab’s website: https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/