Merlin Bird ID

The best app to be swiping on: Merlin. 🐦
Merlin is excited to introduce the Observation Deck, a collection of bird media on your home screen curated to enrich your knowledge and experiences in the field.

Every time you open the app, the Observation Deck serves up something new: photos of birds currently near you, bite-sized facts about the species in your area, and seasonal highlights timed to what's currently happening in the natural world. And don't worry, your Bird of the Day is included in the deck! The more you swipe, the more you discover.

Tap anything that catches your eye to dive straight into the full Species Account, hear its calls, explore its range, and learn everything you need to find it in the field. Your birds, your area, your Observation Deck! 🌿

Update Merlin today and start swiping. Read more about the Observation Deck by tapping the link below:
https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/observation-deck/

Media Credit: Hooded Warbler, Setophaga citrina © Matthew Dolkart / Macaulay Library

Weekend plans? Sorted. 🙌
You can explore Nearby Places! This new Merlin feature is designed to help you find birds and the habitats they call home right in your own area. Open the app, tap a species, and use the 'Nearby Places' button to see local spots where you are likely to find that bird. 🐦🌿

What nearby places have you visited?

Media Credit: Habitat: Lester River Mouth © Peter Mundale / Macaulay Library

Global Big Day was a Success! 🎉
On 9 May, 2.1 million Merlin users joined in celebrating birds. From the streets of Bukhara to the high Andes to Antarctica, people came together to document birds and accomplished something remarkable: 8,023 species observed in a single day — 73% of all birds on Earth.

Read more about this tremendous achievement and listen to some of the species heard around the world at the link below.
https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/global-big-day-recap-2026/

Thank you for being part of Global Big Day 2026! 🌍🐦

Media Credit: Little Bustard, Tetrax tetrax © Mireia Torras / Macaulay Library

Wherever you are in the world, you can find birds. In some places, like, entire industries revolve around them.

Increasing interest in birding and the rise of ecotourism can play a real role in protecting the habitats species depend on, and Colombia is a stunning example of that in action. The The New York Times just covered the surge in avitourism there. Tap the link below to read the full article. 🌿🐦
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/17/world/americas/colombia-birding-app-merlin-ebird-tourism.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share

So, About This Past Weekend…it was full of birds! 🐥

Sound ID was used around the world around and the top recorded birds included:
- American Robins, the key players of the suburban soundtrack often calling at dawn and dusk.
- Northern Cardinals delivering series of clear, slurred whistles and sharp metallic chip notes from thickets and forest edges across eastern North America (and well into Mexico).
- Eurasian Blackbirds sharing their rich fluting songs from hedgerows at golden hour.
- Red-winged Blackbirds were calling conk-la-REEEE call from a tall grass thickets.

Which bird stole the show in your Sound ID sessions this weekend?

Media Credit: Eurasian Blackbird, Turdus merula © Tomáš Koranda / Macaulay Library

Global Big Day isn’t slowing down, and neither should you! ✨

What birds are you finding with Merlin today? 👀🐦
Drop your latest species in the comments or tag us, we want to see the birds you've identified!

Meanwhile, the global crew is racking up some serious sightings including Wing-banded Wren in Ecuador, Bristle-thighed Curlew in French Polynesia, and Tristram’s Warbler in Morocco.

There's still time to participate by saving your sightings in Merlin and sharing your Big Day adventures with ! 🎉

Barred Owl, Strix varia © Jon and Hannah / Macaulay Library

It’s officially GLOBAL BIG DAY! 🐦

Bird lovers around the world are already spotting their favorite species including Spot-throated Hummingbird in Peru, Blyth's Hornbill and Moustached Treeswift in Indonesia, and Strange-tailed Tyrant in Argentina.
You can contribute your sightings too!
Here's how to participate:
1️⃣ Open your Merlin Bird ID app
2️⃣ Identify birds near you
3️⃣ Tap “This is my bird”, save your sighting, and now you’re part of the world’s biggest birding event! 🪩🌿

We wanna see your Sound ID recordings and favorite species, so tag Merlin Bird ID and use to share your birding adventures. Let’s make this the birdiest day EVER. 🐥✨

Media Credit: Moustached Treeswift, Hemiprocne mystacea © Marco Valentini / Macaulay Library

Global Big Day is creeping up on us, AND WE CAN'T WAIT! ⏰

This Saturday, 9 May, using Merlin and saving your bird sightings allows you to participate in . Every year, bird lovers around the world spot incredible species, share unforgettable birding adventures, and come together to celebrate our feathered friends. 🐥✨
So get ready to get outside and find birds near you on 9 May!

The countdown is ON for Global Big Day!

Plot twist: You don't need to travel far to make a huge impact. Whether you're planning an epic birding expedition or just stepping into your backyard with Merlin, every saved sighting counts toward this global celebration of birds!
From rooftop pigeons in NYC to rare migrating species in remote forests, there's no shortage of adventures waiting on 9 May! The beauty is that birds are everywhere, and so are opportunities to contribute. 🌍

What are YOUR plans for ?

Birding brunch? Lunch break nature walk? All-day birding marathon? Let us know in the comments!

Share your 9 May adventures with , we can't wait to see what you discover! Tap the link below to learn more about how you can participate!
https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/celebrate-birds-this-global-big-day/

[Media Credit: Brewster's Warbler (hybrid), Vermivora chrysoptera © Kevin Lin / Macaulay Library]

Global Big Day is a week away!

On 9 May, over a million people across 200+ countries are adventuring outside to spot birds. And we're inviting YOU to the global celebration! You don't need to be an experienced birder to participate. Just grab Merlin, head outside, identify what you find, save your sightings and done! You're in!

Last year more than 1.7 million people found over 7,900 species of birds in a single day. This year, we're hoping even more people can join this celebration of birds.

Drop a comment and tell us, what species are you hoping to find on May 9? Share your Global Big Day adventures on social media with .

Tap the link below to learn more and see you on the 9th!
https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/celebrate-birds-this-global-big-day/

Media Credit: Groove-billed Ani, Crotophaga sulcirostris © Juan Diego Vargas / Macaulay Library, Cornell Lab