How to use Cornell Merlin to identify bird calls from your phone

Have you ever heard a bird sing and wondered what kind of bird it is? Or, have you seen a beautiful bird but don't know its name? Today we'll tell you about an app that will help you identify the birds you see and hear for free and easily: Merlin Bird ID. Next, let's take a look at the How to use Cornell Merlin to identify bird calls from your mobile phone.

What is Cornell Merlin or Merlin Bird ID?

Así como existen apps para identificar plantas, there are also some to identify animals like birds. Merlin Bird ID or Merlin from Cornell is a free mobile app developed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology It helps birdwatchers of all levels identify birds. Ornithology is the branch of zoology dedicated to the scientific study of birds and encompasses aspects such as behavior, physiology, ecology, and more. So the information offered by this app is truly reliable.

Now then, Where does the Merlin Bird ID app database come from? From eBird, a global citizen science platform that allows anyone to record and share bird observations. The app features a Bird Guide with photos and sounds, a step-by-step identification wizard, and an audio identification feature that lets you use Cornell's Merlin to identify bird calls from your phone.

Among the Main functions with which you can use Merlin Cornell's guidelines for identifying bird songs include:

• Audio IDTo use Cornell Merlin to identify bird calls from your phone, simply record the species singing in your area, and the app will generate one or more possible birds.
• Photo ID: You can identify a bird not only by its song, but also by its appearance. Take a photo from the app or upload one you've previously taken with your device for Merlin Bird ID to identify.
• Identification Assistant: Answer three simple questions about the bird's size, color, and behavior to receive a list of possible species.
• Bird Guide: Get a digital guide with a huge amount of photos, sounds, and distribution maps of birds around the world.
• Nearby Bird Lists: You can browse or create custom lists of birds found at a specific site.

Here's how you can use Cornell's Merlin to identify bird calls from your phone.

You can use Cornell Merlin to identify bird calls from any type of mobile phone. It is available for free download for Android and iOS devices.. So it is possible to obtain it from your official website or from your respective app store, Play Store or App Store. Once you've downloaded the app, do the following to identify bird calls.

Configure the app according to the language

If you want bird names to appear in Spanish, you must first set the language. To do this, open the app, go to the menu, and select Settings. You can select "Show scientific names" and click "Language for common names”. There, choose Spanish (Spain) or the country of your choice.

Using Cornell Merlin to identify bird songs

Once you've set the app's language, you're ready to use Cornell Merlin to identify bird calls from your phone. To do this, Follow the simple steps below.:

1. Open the app and click Audio ID.
2. As the app says, “Get as close to the bird as you can, stay still, and press record.” Then, toca el icono del micrófonoYou'll need to grant microphone and location permissions for greater accuracy.
3. En ese momento, The app will start listening to the bird's song que estás grabando.
4. After a few moments, under the legend “Mejores resultados"The name of the bird you are listening to will appear.
5. Done. This simple way you can identify birdsongs with Merlin Bird ID.

To achieve a more accurate identification, remember to keep silentAvoid talking or making noise while the app is listening so it can better capture the song. It's also a good idea to point your phone's microphone in the direction you hear the song. Finally, try recording the audio for several minutes to correctly identify the bird species present.

Identify birds through photos

In addition to using Cornell's Merlin to identify bird calls, I also You can use photos to identify them. On the one hand, you can take a photo directly from the app or you can choose one stored in your phone's gallery. Once done, you'll receive a suggestion with the bird's scientific name and common name.

Explore and Lifetime Listing

If the songs and photos aren't enough to help you identify the bird you're looking for, then you can use the Explore and Lifetime Listing sections. When you open the Explore section You will encounter all the probable species that exist near where you live.In each one, you can see what it looks like, get a brief description, and hear its song and calls.

And in Lifetime Listing you can Create a list of birds you've seen near where you liveYou can also show more suggestions or log in to view a lifetime list you've previously created. One of these options will likely allow you to identify bird calls or their appearance.

Use Cornell Merlin to identify bird calls from your mobile phone.

Who hasn't enjoyed the song of a bird early in the morning or at nightfall? It's believed these tiny animals can learn more than 2.000 different songs. And now you know you can use Cornell's Merlin to identify bird songs from your phone quickly, safely, and for free.

Take advantage of the tools it offers, put Merlin to listen to what you hear, send a photo, or browse their database. We guarantee you'll never want to stop using this app, especially if you live in a natural setting or frequently escape to bird-friendly places.