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Need help identifying a bird?
If you have access to a smartphone or tablet a great place to start is Merlin Bird ID, our free app available on iOS and Android.
Watch this video to see Merlin Bird ID in action!
Using Merlin
Merlin asks you a series of questions about the bird you saw, then provides a list of possible species based on your answers. Simply look through photos and descriptions of each suggested species to help you decide which one is your bird.
Here’s how:
- Download the Merlin app.
- Install a Bird Pack. Click View Suggested to see which one Merlin recommends for your region.
- Click on Start Bird ID.
- Answer the five questions as prompted.
- Look through the suggested species.
- If you find your bird, click This is my bird!
Using Merlin Photo ID
If you have a photograph of the bird in question, try using the Photo ID feature. It uses computer vision technology to identify your bird by comparing your photo to thousands of images previously submitted to eBird, our citizen science database of bird observations.
Here’s how:
- Download the Merlin app.
- Click on Photo ID.
- Click Download to add Photo ID to your device.
- Click Take Photo to take a photo in the app, or Choose Photo if you already have one saved.
- Zoom until your bird fills the box as prompted.
- Confirm the location and date, or click I Don’t Know.
- Click Identify.
- Look through the suggested species.
- If you find your bird, click This is my bird!
While not every bird species is currently in Merlin, new species are constantly being added to the over 7,500 species from around the world already covered.
Free eBird Course
Also, enroll in our FREE eBird Essentials course to learn more about using eBird and Merlin. Then start contributing your own bird observations!
You must be logged in to reply to this topic. -
Bank Swallow or Rough Winged? Too little to tell?
North-central Idaho -
I have been a member of Project Feederwatch for many years and have never seen a bird such as in these photos. Central California, Tulare County, early December. Sparrow size, barred breast, dark face, no eye ring, no wing bars. Top of tail a little lighter than its back. Can anyone help? Thanks.
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Scaley Breasted Munia
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I could use some help to ID this sunbird. I saw it in April near Hluhluwe–iMfolozi Park south africa.
Could it be th cinnyris mariquensis?
Thanks in advance,
Eric
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It is most definitely a Cynnyris Talatala or white-breasted sunbird. Great find by the way!
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@Esteban Thanks for your help Esteban!
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Location: Bronx, New York White Collar and Tail Feathers on a black body.
I was at work the other day in New York and saw this bird that I could not identify. I asked two ornithologists that I know, and neither was able to provide a definitive answer.
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In nature, weird feather mutations are a thing, and it seems to happen here with this bird, which is probably a crow, raven, grackle, blackbird, or otherwise. If you remember what the bird´s shape is, it could help greatly in determining if this bird is one of the birds above that suffers from partial albinism or is simply just a crossed bird.
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Location: Colfax, Louisiana (Central Louisiana) Beak is pointed. What is this bird?
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Upland sandpiper, nice find
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@David Yea, Upland Sandpiper
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I have been able to identify every bird that visits our feeders except this one! Nelson county Kentucky 9-4-2023. Merlin says the call is a thrasher… does not look like a thrasher to me. Compared it to every bird in Sibley for Kentucky for surrounding months to no avail. Any ideas out there?
Thank you kindly.
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I live in Shreveport, LA. There are various bodies of water nearby, many of them offshoots of the Red River from its direction changing over the years. I found this bird feather in a parking lot. It is approximately 7 inches long. With unusual coloration, I believed it would be easy to photo ID online. But that is not so, at least not for me! Since it is fairly large, I had in my mind the idea that it belongs to some type of waterfowl. From looking at pictures of green herons, I believe it might be from one of those. Yet I can find no individual feather photos to confirm that. I usually find success using the Feather Atlas, but the only feathers I can find there for a green heron are all one color and there are only 3 in total listed. If anyone can provide insight and direction as to a correct ID I would truly appreciate it.
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Maybe it is a tricolored heron.
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I found this duck in Baltimore this week and can’t figure out what is! Muscovy, hybrid?! Managed to get a couple of fuzzy pics through my scope. Any help is appreciated!
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I definitely think it is a Muscovy.
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Lovely ducks in a pond. Many Mallards, I believe some hybrids of Mallard x American Black Duck. But these ones I can't pin point. The white eyebrows on the top two throw me off. And the bottom grey duck - is it a hybrid? In Fate, TX.
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This is a really basic question but it’s stopped me before I’ve started. There are two parts to this question. First I’m on Lanzarote but it wants to send me the bird pack for Spain and I can’t work out which bird pack is best. Second I can only find the Latin names of birds and I can’t id in Latin only in English. I’m seeing turnstones, whimbrel, gulls of various species, plover, bustard, vultures and obviously canaries and sparrows, egrets, heron, raven, doves. Can’t enter anything. Help.
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You can change the language in configuration. Choose the pack for all Spain.
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what are these cute little birds at my feeder?
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They look like House Finches to me.
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I need help IDing these 2 birds. Tried in vain for awhile on Merlin's database searching juveniles and still couldn't find a positive ID. Seen off of the coast of Anacortes, WA.
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Your top two birds look like loons, probably Common Loons, but possibly Pacific Loons. The bottom picture appears to be a female Common Goldeneye (Duck).
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I think the top two photos are a Red-necked Grebe, either a nonbreeding adult or immature, resting its head on its chest.
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@Lianna I am almost certain the top ones are loons, not grebes. I agree that the bottom is an goldeneye.
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Hi,
Shot this cutie today in Boulder, Colorado. Cannot figure out what it is. I'm a newbie so bear with me...
Thanks
Noam
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Looks like a Western Bluebird to me. Compare between Eastern Bluebird, the ranges overlap slightly for Colorado.
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Yes, make sure to look at the shoulder. If the orange goes over onto the back its a western. If it stops at the shoulder its an eastern. I think eastern
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Trying to identify a bird that calls out at night to another bird high in the trees. Doesn’t seem to be an owl. Not a song but a call. Usually after dark for about two hours. In the Northwest. I do have a recording
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Hi Maureen! Since you have a recording, I suggest you try Merlin's Sound ID feature. You can import your file directly into Merlin. Please see the Sound ID Help Center for more information about how to do it.
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Found what I think is a Mourning dove? But in my book it looked different. Pink legs, otherwise black and grey, sitting on my neighbor's lawn. I'm sure this is easy for most people but I'm very new, thanks!
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It was difficult to see if it was a natural bump or possibly a defect/injury... Your opinion... Seen in the town of San Andreas, Calaveras County, California early August 2022
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Could someone identify what kind of birds/ducks these are please? I captured these photos of the birds sunning on a dock while my wife and I were visiting Lake Como, Italy. Perhaps they are migratory birds just passing through the area ? I can find no other duck that looks like these guys. Thanks for anyone's help.
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These ducks are Common Mergansers. Note the narrow, pointed bill; shaggy crest; and white chest.
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@Elizabeth Thank you Elizabeth. You confirmed what I just figured out myself. The predominant white color of these Mergansers was really throwing me off. These must be the Eurasian Gossander (Common Merganser) ?
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@ginbudjim Yes, they are also called Eurasian Goosanders.
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That bird is a Black Phoebe. Though it might be juvenile? These birds can be seen flying around catching insects. Hope this helps.
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This solid brown bird stumps Merlin and other apps, etc. Seems like a Phoebe but the color is wrong. (?) Seen June 6, 2021 in San Luis Obispo, CA, 93401, near a small lake.
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Not sure what your location was, but these are what I think the bird looks like: Black Phoebe, Blackish Pewee, or Dark Pewee.
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Definitely a phoebe, probably a dark morph of an Eastern Phoebe
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Can anyone tell me what type of bird this feather came from. It was found in a school yard in downtown Toronto. It's 18" long (45 cm). A friend thinks it's a turkey feather, and by the pictures I've seen, it is a very good possibility. Any thoughts?
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Can you identify this bird? Woodpecker, between Hairy and Downy in size, dull red cap, similar to Ladder-backed or American 3-toed (except red instead of yellow on head). Colours all muted much like an immature. Has been at my feeder and particulary the lard feeder over the past few days. Postal code - L1Y1A2, Claremont, Ontario, Canada We already have Downy, Hairy and Red-bellied so I know the difference
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Anybody recognize this bird with bright yellow eyebrows I saw in my garden this morning?
Thanks,
Moonraker
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That looks like a Golden-crowned Kinglet; nice find! https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Golden-crowned_Kinglet/overview
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definitely a golden crowned kinglet, note the yellow and red dot on its head.
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I found it thanks for helping!!! Laurence's Goldfinch!! Thank you:)
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The real question is why the Photo ID feature can only be used on a mobile device. Taking a picture of my monitor with my phone is odd.
Bank Swallow or Rough Winged? Too little to tell?
North-central Idaho 
I have been a member of Project Feederwatch for many years and have never seen a bird such as in these photos. Central California, Tulare County, early December. Sparrow size, barred breast, dark face, no eye ring, no wing bars. Top of tail a little lighter than its back. Can anyone help? Thanks. 
I could use some help to ID this sunbird. I saw it in April near Hluhluwe–iMfolozi Park south africa.
Could it be th cinnyris mariquensis?
Thanks in advance,
Eric 
I was at work the other day in New York and saw this bird that I could not identify. I asked two ornithologists that I know, and neither was able to provide a definitive answer. 
I have been able to identify every bird that visits our feeders except this one! Nelson county Kentucky 9-4-2023. Merlin says the call is a thrasher… does not look like a thrasher to me. Compared it to every bird in Sibley for Kentucky for surrounding months to no avail. Any ideas out there?
Thank you kindly.
Hi,
Shot this cutie today in Boulder, Colorado. Cannot figure out what it is. I'm a newbie so bear with me...
Thanks
Noam 
Can anyone tell me what type of bird this feather came from. It was found in a school yard in downtown Toronto. It's 18" long (45 cm). A friend thinks it's a turkey feather, and by the pictures I've seen, it is a very good possibility. Any thoughts? 
Anybody recognize this bird with bright yellow eyebrows I saw in my garden this morning?
Thanks,
Moonraker