Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab: iPhone vs Android
Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab gets 5k+ downloads a day worldwide (AppInsider estimate, October 2026, rounded down to a band).
Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab by Cornell University is on both the App Store and Google Play. Here are both versions together: downloads, users, revenue, ratings and chart positions, store by store with totals.
Reference FreeMerlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab at a glance
AI summary written from our chart and store data, 2026-10-24. It can be wrong: check the numbers above.
Merlin Bird ID is a free, AI-powered reference app from Cornell University that helps birders and nature enthusiasts identify birds through photos, sounds, and guided questions. The app holds strong top-5 positions in the Australian and UK Reference Free charts, with consistent presence in major global markets including Canada, Germany, India, and the US.
Similar apps: iNaturalist, Seek by iNaturalist, BirdNET
App Store
App details
App privacy Measured
Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab’s App Store privacy label declares 0 data categories used to track you across other companies’ apps and websites, 1 linked to your identity and 3 collected anonymously.
As declared by the developer on the App Store — Apple requires every app to publish this label. We track changes over time.
Google Play
App details
Tech stack
Trackers and permissions of build v4.1, from the εxodus privacy report (CC BY-SA).
Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab downloads & installs
Both stores, worldwide. Bands are open; exact numbers are free with an account.
| Store | Downloads / day | Lifetime installs |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone | 1k+ | 5M+ |
| Google Play | 5k+ | 10M+ Measured |
| Total | 5k+ Confidence | 10M+ Confidence |
How this is calculated
Where Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab's downloads come from Modelled
Last 30 days: organic search, browsing the store, features and paid ads.
Active users
All platforms, worldwide. Free with an account.
Retention · share of new users still active
Time spent · per daily user
How this is calculated
Where it ranks now
Both stores, across every country we track.
Ratings
Both stores. Store data, measured.
| Store | Rating | Ratings |
|---|---|---|
| App Store | 4.9 ★ | 114k |
| Google Play | 5.0 ★ | 183k 31k written reviews |
| Both stores | 4.9 ★ weighted by ratings | 297k |
What users say about Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab
From the 118 most recent App Store reviews in the US.
Users express strong moral outrage and boycott the app due to Cornell University's handling of sexual assault cases, leading to numerous one-star reviews and deletions. While core functionality like bird identification remains praised by some, recent updates have introduced technical issues such as failed photo recognition and excessive email spam.
Mixed (45% of recent reviews give 4–5 stars). People like it for being fun, and being useful. The main complaints are about crashes and bugs, and login and account problems. Recent reviews are more negative than earlier ones.
What people like
- Fun: “This app is super accurate and fun”
- Useful: “Would highly recommend to anyone”
- Connection & sync: “Also tried being on/off WiFi and using cellular”
- Login & account: “Login process frustrating”
Common complaints
- Crashes & bugs: “No support, stopped working”
- Login & account: “Says to verify internet connection”
- Updates: “New updates so slow and bad”
- Connection & sync: “Sadly this is connected to Cornell”
About Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab
Merlin helps you identify birds you see and hear. Merlin is unlike any other bird app—it's powered by eBird, the world’s largest database of bird sightings, sounds, and photos.
Merlin offers four fun ways to identify birds. Answer a few simple questions, upload a photo, record a singing bird, or explore birds in a region.
Whether you’re curious about a bird you’ve seen once or you’re hoping to identify every bird you can find, the answers are waiting for you with this free app from the renowned Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
WHY YOU’LL LOVE MERLIN
• Expert ID tips, range maps, photos, and sounds help you learn about the birds you spot and build birding skills.
• Discover a new bird species each day with your own personalized Bird of the Day
• Get customized lists of birds you can find where you live or travel - anywhere in the world!
• Keep track of your sightings—build your personal list of the birds you find
MACHINE LEARNING MAGIC
• Powered by Visipedia, Merlin Sound ID and Photo ID uses machine learning to identify birds in photos and sounds. Merlin learns to recognize bird species based on training sets of millions of photos and sounds collected by birders at eBird.org, archived in the Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
• Merlin delivers the most accurate results thanks to experienced birders, who curate and annotate sightings, photos, and sounds, who are the true magic behind Merlin.
AMAZING CONTENT
• Merlin has bird photos, songs, and calls, and identification help for anywhere in the world, including Mexico, Costa Rica, South America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, India, Australia, Korea, Japan, China, and more.
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s mission is to interpret and conserve the Earth’s biological diversity through research, education, and citizen science focused on birds and nature. We are able to offer Merlin for free thanks to the generosity of Cornell Lab members, supporters, and citizen-science contributors.
Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab iPhone
Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab gets 5k+ downloads a day worldwide (AppInsider estimate, October 2026, rounded down to a band).
Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab is #2 in Reference Free in Australia and charting in 11 of 30 countries we track.
Updated 25 Oct 2026 · rankings refresh through the day
24 Sep 2026 Reference FreeMerlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab at a glance
AI summary written from our chart and store data, 2026-10-24. It can be wrong: check the numbers above.
Merlin Bird ID is a free, AI-powered reference app from Cornell University that helps birders and nature enthusiasts identify birds through photos, sounds, and guided questions. The app holds strong top-5 positions in the Australian and UK Reference Free charts, with consistent presence in major global markets including Canada, Germany, India, and the US.
Similar apps: iNaturalist, Seek by iNaturalist, BirdNET
Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab on the App Store
App details
App privacy Measured
Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab’s App Store privacy label declares 0 data categories used to track you across other companies’ apps and websites, 1 linked to your identity and 3 collected anonymously.
As declared by the developer on the App Store — Apple requires every app to publish this label. We track changes over time.
Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab downloads
Worldwide, per day, and installs to date. The band is open; the exact number is free with an account.
How this is calculated
Where Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab's downloads come from Modelled
Last 30 days: organic search, browsing the store, features and paid ads.
Active users
All platforms, worldwide. Free with an account.
Retention · share of new users still active
Time spent · per daily user
How this is calculated
Where it ranks now
Every top chart it appears in across 30 countries.
| Country | Charts | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | ReferenceFree | #2 |
 United States | ReferenceFree | #18 |
 United Kingdom | ReferenceFree | #8 |
| Germany | ReferenceFree | #28 |
 Canada | ReferenceFree | #18 |
 Japan | ReferenceFree | #73 |
 France | ReferenceFree | #37 |
 India | ReferenceFree | #31 |
 Brazil | ReferenceFree | #45 |
 South Korea | ReferenceFree | #68 |
 Italy | ReferenceFree | #50 |
Apps near Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab on the chart
Reference Free, around #2.
Ratings
App Store, worldwide.
What users say about Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab
From the 118 most recent App Store reviews in the US.
Users express strong moral outrage and boycott the app due to Cornell University's handling of sexual assault cases, leading to numerous one-star reviews and deletions. While core functionality like bird identification remains praised by some, recent updates have introduced technical issues such as failed photo recognition and excessive email spam.
Mixed (45% of recent reviews give 4–5 stars). People like it for being fun, and being useful. The main complaints are about crashes and bugs, and login and account problems. Recent reviews are more negative than earlier ones.
What people like
- Fun: “This app is super accurate and fun”
- Useful: “Would highly recommend to anyone”
- Connection & sync: “Also tried being on/off WiFi and using cellular”
- Login & account: “Login process frustrating”
Common complaints
- Crashes & bugs: “No support, stopped working”
- Login & account: “Says to verify internet connection”
- Updates: “New updates so slow and bad”
- Connection & sync: “Sadly this is connected to Cornell”
About Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab
Merlin helps you identify birds you see and hear. Merlin is unlike any other bird app—it's powered by eBird, the world’s largest database of bird sightings, sounds, and photos.
Merlin offers four fun ways to identify birds. Answer a few simple questions, upload a photo, record a singing bird, or explore birds in a region.
Whether you’re curious about a bird you’ve seen once or you’re hoping to identify every bird you can find, the answers are waiting for you with this free app from the renowned Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
WHY YOU’LL LOVE MERLIN
• Expert ID tips, range maps, photos, and sounds help you learn about the birds you spot and build birding skills.
• Discover a new bird species each day with your own personalized Bird of the Day
• Get customized lists of birds you can find where you live or travel - anywhere in the world!
• Keep track of your sightings—build your personal list of the birds you find
MACHINE LEARNING MAGIC
• Powered by Visipedia, Merlin Sound ID and Photo ID uses machine learning to identify birds in photos and sounds. Merlin learns to recognize bird species based on training sets of millions of photos and sounds collected by birders at eBird.org, archived in the Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
• Merlin delivers the most accurate results thanks to experienced birders, who curate and annotate sightings, photos, and sounds, who are the true magic behind Merlin.
AMAZING CONTENT
• Merlin has bird photos, songs, and calls, and identification help for anywhere in the world, including Mexico, Costa Rica, South America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, India, Australia, Korea, Japan, China, and more.
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s mission is to interpret and conserve the Earth’s biological diversity through research, education, and citizen science focused on birds and nature. We are able to offer Merlin for free thanks to the generosity of Cornell Lab members, supporters, and citizen-science contributors.
Latest updates
More from Cornell University
Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab Android
Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab gets 5k+ downloads a day worldwide (AppInsider estimate, October 2026, rounded down to a band).
Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab is #3 in Books & Reference Free on Google Play in Australia and charting in 16 of 23 countries we track.
Updated 25 Oct 2026 · rankings refresh through the day
Books & Reference FreeMerlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab at a glance
AI summary written from our chart and store data, 2026-10-22. It can be wrong: check the numbers above.
A free, AI-powered bird identification tool by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology that uses photos, sound recordings, and user queries to identify species for hobbyists and researchers. The app maintains strong top-20 positions in European and Australian reference charts while ranking #33 in the US, indicating sustained global utility despite a moderate 3.98-star rating across 183k reviews.
Similar apps: Merlin Bird ID, BirdNET, iNaturalist
Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab on Google Play
App details
Tech stack
Trackers and permissions of build v4.1, from the εxodus privacy report (CC BY-SA).
Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab downloads
Worldwide, per day, and installs to date. The band is open; the exact number is free with an account.
How this is calculated
Where Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab's downloads come from Modelled
Last 30 days: organic search, browsing the store, features and paid ads.
Active users
All platforms, worldwide. Free with an account.
Retention · share of new users still active
Time spent · per daily user
How this is calculated
Where it ranks on Google Play
Every top 200 chart it appears in across 23 countries.
| Country | Charts | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | Books & ReferenceFree | #3 |
| United Kingdom | Books & ReferenceFree | #7 |
| United States | Books & ReferenceFree | #33 |
 Netherlands | Books & ReferenceFree | #3 |
| France | Books & ReferenceFree | #19 |
| Germany | Books & ReferenceFree | #34 |
| Canada | Books & ReferenceFree | #27 |
| Japan | Books & ReferenceFree | #93 |
 Spain | Books & ReferenceFree | #27 |
| Italy | Books & ReferenceFree | #51 |
 Sweden | Books & ReferenceFree | #18 |
| Brazil | Books & ReferenceFree | #101 |
 Mexico | Books & ReferenceFree | #81 |
 Taiwan | Books & ReferenceFree | #76 |
 Russia | Books & ReferenceFree | #169 |
 Turkey | Books & ReferenceFree | #165 |
Apps near Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab on the chart
Books & Reference Free, around #3.
Ratings
Google Play, worldwide.
What users say about Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab
From the 200 most recent Google Play reviews in the US.
Users overwhelmingly praise the app for its accurate bird identification via sound and photos, ease of use, and free access without ads or paywalls. However, a minority report technical issues including login failures, excessive storage usage, and intrusive email verification prompts.
Mostly positive (85% of recent reviews give 4–5 stars). People like it for being fun, and being easy to use. The main complaints are about recent updates, and crashes and bugs.
What people like
- Fun: “it makes walking more fun!”
- Ease of use: “Such a convenient app for my hikes!!”
- Features & content: “Great tool to discover birds”
- Useful: “I love it and highly recommend”
Common complaints
- Updates: “Not functioning after the last 2 updates”
- Crashes & bugs: “worked great for a while.....glitches like crazy now”
- Login & account: “the forgot password link never sends the email”
- Price & subscription: “REFUND JANE DOE'S TUITION”
About Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab
Merlin Bird ID helps you identify birds you see and hear. Merlin is unlike any other bird app—it's powered by eBird, the world’s largest database of bird sightings, sounds, and photos.
Merlin offers four fun ways to identify birds. Answer a few simple questions, upload a photo, record a singing bird, or explore birds in a region.
Whether you’re curious about a bird you’ve seen once or you’re hoping to identify every bird you can find, the answers are waiting for you with this free app from the renowned Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
WHY YOU’LL LOVE MERLIN
• Expert ID tips, range maps, photos, and sounds help you learn about the birds you spot and build birding skills.
• Discover a new bird species each day with your own personalized Bird of the Day
• Get customized lists of birds you can find where you live or travel - anywhere in the world!
• Keep track of your sightings—build your personal list of the birds you find
MACHINE LEARNING MAGIC
• Powered by Visipedia, Merlin Sound ID and Photo ID uses machine learning to identify birds in photos and sounds. Merlin learns to recognize bird species based on training sets of millions of photos and sounds collected by birders at eBird.org, archived in the Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
• Merlin delivers the most accurate results thanks to experienced birders, who curate and annotate sightings, photos, and sounds, who are the true magic behind Merlin.
AMAZING CONTENT
• Choose bird packs that contain photos, songs, and calls, and identification help for anywhere in the world, including Mexico, Costa Rica, South America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, India, Australia, Korea, Japan, China, and more.
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s mission is to interpret and conserve the Earth’s biological diversity through research, education, and citizen science focused on birds and nature. We are able to offer Merlin for free thanks to the generosity of Cornell Lab members, supporters, and citizen-science contributors.
What's new in 4.2.1
Identifying birds with a picture is easier than ever. No need to crop your picture - simply upload your photo, add the location, and we'll take care of the rest.
Bug fixes and behind-the-scenes improvements
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