{"slug": "merlin", "name": "Merlin", "category": "other", "category_name": "Other software", "description": "Free bird identification app from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, using sound and photos.", "recommenders": 6, "commenters": 8, "warners": 0, "score": 6.135, "rising": 0.69, "first": "2026-04-03", "latest": "2026-10-28", "why": "Recommended for identifying birds by their song on regular walks and at home, and credited with getting several commenters into birding.", "why_is_quote": false, "has_verdict": true, "sentiment": {"recommend": 6, "neutral": 2, "compare": 0, "warn": 0}, "spark": [0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0], "listed": true, "loved": ["Birdsong recognition", "Habitual use"], "caveat": "Shy singers", "short_quote": "Thanks to Merlin Bird ID, I've got rather into birds in the past few years.", "icon": true, "domain": "allaboutbirds.org", "github_repo": null, "official_url": "https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/", "pricing": "free", "aliases": ["Merlin", "Merlin Bird ID"], "verdict": [{"text": "Recommended for identifying birds by their song on regular walks and at home", "cites": [{"id": 787108193, "item_id": 49194262, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49194262", "by": "pbhjpbhj", "date": "2026-08-06", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "I use iNaturalist (and Merlin for birdsong recognition).", "excerpt": "I use iNaturalist (and Merlin for birdsong recognition). No ads, non-profit, contribute to research, etc. It also allows you to find out what others have spotted in your area. I like the range maps, the images across seasons, and other seasonal information. The actual ML-based recognition is somewhat hidden, I think that part of the UI needs some work; it seems like it was made for researchers first then hacked for n", "context": "", "use_case": "birdsong recognition", "switched_from": "", "story": "Crime Pays but Botany Doesn't"}, {"id": 773561680, "item_id": 48347605, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48347605", "by": "rglover", "date": "2026-05-31", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "highly recommend the Cornell Merlin Bird ID app", "excerpt": "If you dig this idea, highly recommend the Cornell Merlin Bird ID app (likely built on the exact tech used here). Use it on my walks every week and it spots some wild stuff (it even correctly identifies birds who are being mocked by a Mockingbird). Helped me learn the Eastern Blue Bird call (personal favorite) so I know when they're nearby.", "context": "", "use_case": "identifying birds on walks", "switched_from": "", "story": "Avian Visitors"}, {"id": 804311904, "item_id": 50269494, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50269494", "by": "doodlebugging", "date": "2026-10-28", "stance": "neutral", "quote": "I normally go outside every morning to identify birds using Merlin.", "excerpt": "Several of my family members and I have planted pollinator gardens in the hopes that we can provide fuel stations for all the migrating insects and birds. Since we are kinda scattered from hell to breakfast we ended up with small to large spaces available scattered across several states including Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. It is great to see these migration paths tracked in this article. That confirms that we are", "context": "", "use_case": "bird identification", "switched_from": "", "story": "Radio-tagged Monarch butterflies"}, {"id": 795436416, "item_id": 49714776, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49714776", "by": "sailfast", "date": "2026-09-15", "stance": "neutral", "quote": "we typically get 10-20 Merlin detections on a decent day", "excerpt": "I just happen to have an extra Pi and an e-ink display sitting around and I LOVE this idea. Going to try it on my screened in porch - we typically get 10-20 Merlin detections on a decent day so this could be fun!", "context": "", "use_case": "bird detection", "switched_from": "", "story": "Show HN: An e-ink frame that hears birds and draws them as 1800s illustrations"}]}, {"text": ", and credited with getting several commenters into birding.", "cites": [{"id": 792284688, "item_id": 49517793, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49517793", "by": "mulle188", "date": "2026-09-01", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "got me into birding (and using Merlin) this year. Highly recommend.", "excerpt": "The documentary 'Listers ' (about two brothers who go all in on birding for a year) on YouTube is so hilarious and got me into birding (and using Merlin) this year. Highly recommend.", "context": "", "use_case": "bird identification", "switched_from": "", "story": "I turned my security cameras into an automatic bird identification system"}, {"id": 775715744, "item_id": 48482234, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48482234", "by": "drcongo", "date": "2026-06-10", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "Thanks to Merlin Bird ID, I've got rather into birds in the past few years.", "excerpt": "Thanks to Merlin Bird ID, I've got rather into birds in the past few years. We have a robin and blackbird that hang out in the garden with us, seemingly unafraid. A couple of months back I bought a camera feeder [0] but we've still only had three bird types that visit - a coal tit who comes fairly infrequently but moves so fast the camera could easily be missing him, some amazing jackdaws who seem to take turns on th", "context": "", "use_case": "bird identification", "switched_from": "", "story": "Who's the Smartest Corvid?"}, {"id": 773561680, "item_id": 48347605, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48347605", "by": "rglover", "date": "2026-05-31", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "highly recommend the Cornell Merlin Bird ID app", "excerpt": "If you dig this idea, highly recommend the Cornell Merlin Bird ID app (likely built on the exact tech used here). Use it on my walks every week and it spots some wild stuff (it even correctly identifies birds who are being mocked by a Mockingbird). Helped me learn the Eastern Blue Bird call (personal favorite) so I know when they're nearby.", "context": "", "use_case": "identifying birds on walks", "switched_from": "", "story": "Avian Visitors"}]}, {"text": " The only complaint is a half-joking one: birds tend to stop singing as soon as you start recording.", "cites": [{"id": 762108608, "item_id": 47631788, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47631788", "by": "jmusall", "date": "2026-04-03", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "I love Merlin Bird ID [1] and Flora Incognita [2].", "excerpt": "Haven't tried iNaturalist yet, but I love Merlin Bird ID [1] and Flora Incognita [2]. The latter seems to be exceptionally accurate (over 80% up to 98% depending on the dataset) [3]. They also expose an API for \"registered external clients\" [4], but so far I sadly wasn't able to find any further documentation on it. A problem I often have with Merlin is that the birds seem to know when I record them, and promptly sto", "context": "", "use_case": "bird identification", "switched_from": "", "story": "iNaturalist"}]}], "praise": [{"label": "Birdsong recognition", "summary": "Commenters use it to identify birds by their calls, including birds being mimicked by a mockingbird.", "quotes": [{"id": 787108193, "item_id": 49194262, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49194262", "by": "pbhjpbhj", "date": "2026-08-06", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "I use iNaturalist (and Merlin for birdsong recognition).", "excerpt": "I use iNaturalist (and Merlin for birdsong recognition). No ads, non-profit, contribute to research, etc. It also allows you to find out what others have spotted in your area. I like the range maps, the images across seasons, and other seasonal information. The actual ML-based recognition is somewhat hidden, I think that part of the UI needs some work; it seems like it was made for researchers first then hacked for n", "context": "", "use_case": "birdsong recognition", "switched_from": "", "story": "Crime Pays but Botany Doesn't"}, {"id": 773561680, "item_id": 48347605, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48347605", "by": "rglover", "date": "2026-05-31", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "highly recommend the Cornell Merlin Bird ID app", "excerpt": "If you dig this idea, highly recommend the Cornell Merlin Bird ID app (likely built on the exact tech used here). Use it on my walks every week and it spots some wild stuff (it even correctly identifies birds who are being mocked by a Mockingbird). Helped me learn the Eastern Blue Bird call (personal favorite) so I know when they're nearby.", "context": "", "use_case": "identifying birds on walks", "switched_from": "", "story": "Avian Visitors"}, {"id": 795436416, "item_id": 49714776, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49714776", "by": "sailfast", "date": "2026-09-15", "stance": "neutral", "quote": "we typically get 10-20 Merlin detections on a decent day", "excerpt": "I just happen to have an extra Pi and an e-ink display sitting around and I LOVE this idea. Going to try it on my screened in porch - we typically get 10-20 Merlin detections on a decent day so this could be fun!", "context": "", "use_case": "bird detection", "switched_from": "", "story": "Show HN: An e-ink frame that hears birds and draws them as 1800s illustrations"}]}, {"label": "Habitual use", "summary": "People use it every morning or every week, some for several years.", "quotes": [{"id": 784128144, "item_id": 49008009, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49008009", "by": "whall6", "date": "2026-07-22", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "Highly highly recommend. I use it at least once a week and have done so for several years.", "excerpt": "Highly highly recommend. I use it at least once a week and have done so for several years. My daughter loves scrolling through all the local birds and playing the sounds they make.", "context": "", "use_case": "identifying local birds and sounds", "switched_from": "", "story": "Cornell's Interactive Wall of Birds"}, {"id": 804311904, "item_id": 50269494, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50269494", "by": "doodlebugging", "date": "2026-10-28", "stance": "neutral", "quote": "I normally go outside every morning to identify birds using Merlin.", "excerpt": "Several of my family members and I have planted pollinator gardens in the hopes that we can provide fuel stations for all the migrating insects and birds. Since we are kinda scattered from hell to breakfast we ended up with small to large spaces available scattered across several states including Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. It is great to see these migration paths tracked in this article. That confirms that we are", "context": "", "use_case": "bird identification", "switched_from": "", "story": "Radio-tagged Monarch butterflies"}, {"id": 773561680, "item_id": 48347605, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48347605", "by": "rglover", "date": "2026-05-31", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "highly recommend the Cornell Merlin Bird ID app", "excerpt": "If you dig this idea, highly recommend the Cornell Merlin Bird ID app (likely built on the exact tech used here). Use it on my walks every week and it spots some wild stuff (it even correctly identifies birds who are being mocked by a Mockingbird). Helped me learn the Eastern Blue Bird call (personal favorite) so I know when they're nearby.", "context": "", "use_case": "identifying birds on walks", "switched_from": "", "story": "Avian Visitors"}]}, {"label": "Gateway to birding", "summary": "Several commenters say it got them into birding.", "quotes": [{"id": 792284688, "item_id": 49517793, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49517793", "by": "mulle188", "date": "2026-09-01", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "got me into birding (and using Merlin) this year. Highly recommend.", "excerpt": "The documentary 'Listers ' (about two brothers who go all in on birding for a year) on YouTube is so hilarious and got me into birding (and using Merlin) this year. Highly recommend.", "context": "", "use_case": "bird identification", "switched_from": "", "story": "I turned my security cameras into an automatic bird identification system"}, {"id": 775715744, "item_id": 48482234, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48482234", "by": "drcongo", "date": "2026-06-10", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "Thanks to Merlin Bird ID, I've got rather into birds in the past few years.", "excerpt": "Thanks to Merlin Bird ID, I've got rather into birds in the past few years. We have a robin and blackbird that hang out in the garden with us, seemingly unafraid. A couple of months back I bought a camera feeder [0] but we've still only had three bird types that visit - a coal tit who comes fairly infrequently but moves so fast the camera could easily be missing him, some amazing jackdaws who seem to take turns on th", "context": "", "use_case": "bird identification", "switched_from": "", "story": "Who's the Smartest Corvid?"}]}, {"label": "Learning bird calls", "summary": "It helps users learn specific calls, and kids enjoy browsing local birds and playing their sounds.", "quotes": [{"id": 773561680, "item_id": 48347605, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48347605", "by": "rglover", "date": "2026-05-31", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "highly recommend the Cornell Merlin Bird ID app", "excerpt": "If you dig this idea, highly recommend the Cornell Merlin Bird ID app (likely built on the exact tech used here). Use it on my walks every week and it spots some wild stuff (it even correctly identifies birds who are being mocked by a Mockingbird). Helped me learn the Eastern Blue Bird call (personal favorite) so I know when they're nearby.", "context": "", "use_case": "identifying birds on walks", "switched_from": "", "story": "Avian Visitors"}, {"id": 784128144, "item_id": 49008009, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49008009", "by": "whall6", "date": "2026-07-22", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "Highly highly recommend. I use it at least once a week and have done so for several years.", "excerpt": "Highly highly recommend. I use it at least once a week and have done so for several years. My daughter loves scrolling through all the local birds and playing the sounds they make.", "context": "", "use_case": "identifying local birds and sounds", "switched_from": "", "story": "Cornell's Interactive Wall of Birds"}]}], "caveats": [{"label": "Shy singers", "summary": "One user finds birds often stop singing once they start recording.", "quotes": [{"id": 762108608, "item_id": 47631788, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47631788", "by": "jmusall", "date": "2026-04-03", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "I love Merlin Bird ID [1] and Flora Incognita [2].", "excerpt": "Haven't tried iNaturalist yet, but I love Merlin Bird ID [1] and Flora Incognita [2]. The latter seems to be exceptionally accurate (over 80% up to 98% depending on the dataset) [3]. They also expose an API for \"registered external clients\" [4], but so far I sadly wasn't able to find any further documentation on it. A problem I often have with Merlin is that the birds seem to know when I record them, and promptly sto", "context": "", "use_case": "bird identification", "switched_from": "", "story": "iNaturalist"}]}], "who": [], "tags": ["for beginner birders", "for backyard birdwatching", "for walks", "for families with kids"], "use_cases": ["bird identification", "bird detection", "birdsong recognition", "identifying local birds and sounds", "identifying birds on walks"], "compared": [{"slug": "flora-incognita", "name": "Flora Incognita", "co": 2, "switched_from": 0, "switched_to": 0}, {"slug": "inaturalist", "name": "iNaturalist", "co": 2, "switched_from": 0, "switched_to": 0}], "makers": [], "threads": [{"url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50262982", "title": "Radio-tagged Monarch butterflies", "mentions": 1}, {"url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49711544", "title": "Show HN: An e-ink frame that hears birds and draws them as 1800s illustrations", "mentions": 1}, {"url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49511856", "title": "I turned my security cameras into an automatic bird identification system", "mentions": 1}, {"url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49192566", "title": "Crime Pays but Botany Doesn't", "mentions": 1}, {"url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48962282", "title": "Cornell's Interactive Wall of Birds", "mentions": 1}, {"url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48464484", "title": "Who's the Smartest Corvid?", "mentions": 1}], "sentiment_by_month": {"2025-11": {}, "2025-12": {}, "2026-01": {}, "2026-02": {}, "2026-03": {}, "2026-04": {"recommend": 1}, "2026-05": {"recommend": 1}, "2026-06": {"recommend": 1}, "2026-07": {"recommend": 1}, "2026-08": {"recommend": 1}, "2026-09": {"recommend": 1, "neutral": 1}, "2026-10": {"neutral": 1}}, "quotes": [{"id": 804311904, "item_id": 50269494, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50269494", "by": "doodlebugging", "date": "2026-10-28", "stance": "neutral", "quote": "I normally go outside every morning to identify birds using Merlin.", "excerpt": "Several of my family members and I have planted pollinator gardens in the hopes that we can provide fuel stations for all the migrating insects and birds. Since we are kinda scattered from hell to breakfast we ended up with small to large spaces available scattered across several states including Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. It is great to see these migration paths tracked in this article. That confirms that we are", "context": "", "use_case": "bird identification", "switched_from": "", "story": "Radio-tagged Monarch butterflies"}, {"id": 795436416, "item_id": 49714776, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49714776", "by": "sailfast", "date": "2026-09-15", "stance": "neutral", "quote": "we typically get 10-20 Merlin detections on a decent day", "excerpt": "I just happen to have an extra Pi and an e-ink display sitting around and I LOVE this idea. Going to try it on my screened in porch - we typically get 10-20 Merlin detections on a decent day so this could be fun!", "context": "", "use_case": "bird detection", "switched_from": "", "story": "Show HN: An e-ink frame that hears birds and draws them as 1800s illustrations"}, {"id": 792284688, "item_id": 49517793, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49517793", "by": "mulle188", "date": "2026-09-01", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "got me into birding (and using Merlin) this year. Highly recommend.", "excerpt": "The documentary 'Listers ' (about two brothers who go all in on birding for a year) on YouTube is so hilarious and got me into birding (and using Merlin) this year. Highly recommend.", "context": "", "use_case": "bird identification", "switched_from": "", "story": "I turned my security cameras into an automatic bird identification system"}, {"id": 787108193, "item_id": 49194262, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49194262", "by": "pbhjpbhj", "date": "2026-08-06", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "I use iNaturalist (and Merlin for birdsong recognition).", "excerpt": "I use iNaturalist (and Merlin for birdsong recognition). No ads, non-profit, contribute to research, etc. It also allows you to find out what others have spotted in your area. I like the range maps, the images across seasons, and other seasonal information. The actual ML-based recognition is somewhat hidden, I think that part of the UI needs some work; it seems like it was made for researchers first then hacked for n", "context": "", "use_case": "birdsong recognition", "switched_from": "", "story": "Crime Pays but Botany Doesn't"}, {"id": 784128144, "item_id": 49008009, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49008009", "by": "whall6", "date": "2026-07-22", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "Highly highly recommend. I use it at least once a week and have done so for several years.", "excerpt": "Highly highly recommend. I use it at least once a week and have done so for several years. My daughter loves scrolling through all the local birds and playing the sounds they make.", "context": "", "use_case": "identifying local birds and sounds", "switched_from": "", "story": "Cornell's Interactive Wall of Birds"}, {"id": 775715744, "item_id": 48482234, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48482234", "by": "drcongo", "date": "2026-06-10", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "Thanks to Merlin Bird ID, I've got rather into birds in the past few years.", "excerpt": "Thanks to Merlin Bird ID, I've got rather into birds in the past few years. We have a robin and blackbird that hang out in the garden with us, seemingly unafraid. A couple of months back I bought a camera feeder [0] but we've still only had three bird types that visit - a coal tit who comes fairly infrequently but moves so fast the camera could easily be missing him, some amazing jackdaws who seem to take turns on th", "context": "", "use_case": "bird identification", "switched_from": "", "story": "Who's the Smartest Corvid?"}, {"id": 773561680, "item_id": 48347605, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48347605", "by": "rglover", "date": "2026-05-31", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "highly recommend the Cornell Merlin Bird ID app", "excerpt": "If you dig this idea, highly recommend the Cornell Merlin Bird ID app (likely built on the exact tech used here). Use it on my walks every week and it spots some wild stuff (it even correctly identifies birds who are being mocked by a Mockingbird). Helped me learn the Eastern Blue Bird call (personal favorite) so I know when they're nearby.", "context": "", "use_case": "identifying birds on walks", "switched_from": "", "story": "Avian Visitors"}, {"id": 762108608, "item_id": 47631788, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47631788", "by": "jmusall", "date": "2026-04-03", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "I love Merlin Bird ID [1] and Flora Incognita [2].", "excerpt": "Haven't tried iNaturalist yet, but I love Merlin Bird ID [1] and Flora Incognita [2]. The latter seems to be exceptionally accurate (over 80% up to 98% depending on the dataset) [3]. They also expose an API for \"registered external clients\" [4], but so far I sadly wasn't able to find any further documentation on it. A problem I often have with Merlin is that the birds seem to know when I record them, and promptly sto", "context": "", "use_case": "bird identification", "switched_from": "", "story": "iNaturalist"}]}