Merlin gives you several photos of each species, range maps and text detailing the bird in question, plus calls and songs. You load this information into your phone one world region at a time.

Particularly for species that Merlin identifies that are rare or beyond the usual range, take a hard look and see if other species are more likely. If you hear hoof beats, think horses, not zebras.

Related: 10 Bird Feeders That Will Attract Hummingbirds, Finches, and More to Your Yard Merlin Bird ID Merlin Bird ID, which was designed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, is widely recognized as ...