Audubon Bird Guide 4+

So I originally used Merlin and didn’t really know this app existed. However, I have an older phone and was not able to update to IOS 16, so was not able to use Merlin anymore as it requires 16 or above. I found this app which is amazing and is totally free! Also, the Bird ID option is awesome!!! On merlin it’s just a few questions that doesn’t narrow it down much. Just size, color, habitait, and activity. Audubon though has options for those AS WELL AS wing shape, tail shape, and best of all type. It was so annoying with Merlin when I was trying to ID a songbird and the options were raptors. On Audubon those won’t even show up! Audubon also has in my opinion much more information about the individual birds and a better designed app.

There are a few things I like about Merlin better though. Merlin obviously connected right to my EBird account which was very useful. It also had bird packs for all over the world, while Audubon only has the US and Canada. Audubon also doesn’t have a sound or photo id, which is annoying. If the developers added this the app would definitely be much better then Merlin.

I suggest, if you can, to download both Merlin and Audubon. Merlin for the photo and sound id and EBird, Audubon for everything else. Thank you for reading my review! Good luck birding! 😁🪶

UPDATE: I love the app, but both my wife and I *hate* the new interface! 😡 Whatever Audubon paid to have this app redesigned, they lost big-time. The new interface REQUIRES you to create an account, and it's almost impossible to easily find what you're looking for. Dropping my earlier 5-star rating to a generous 2 stars. This reeks.

My wife and I have never been "bird watchers", but since being able to enjoy our morning coffee outside every morning, we've taken to really enjoying the busy company of our feathered friends. I downloaded this app to help identify the calls, and WOW! this app is terrific. It helps identify the multitude of calls, shapes, colors, regions, etc, and has really opened up our appreciation and knowledge. To cap it off: We were trying to confirm a Carolina Wren on our patio this morning; I opened the app and started playing the different calls of the Carolina Wren, and the next thing we knew, this little guy had braved hopping right up next to where we were sitting, trying to locate where the calls were coming from! I silenced my phone momentarily, and he flew a few feet away, but as soon as I started the calls back up, here he came again, trying to find his invisible friend! That alone is enough to merit a 5-star rating for this incredible app. 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

This app is easily my most used besides Safari. I love the explore feature; it’s given me so many tips on where to find great birding spots in my area (and great hiking too!) It also helps me know which birds to watch out for when traveling.

After choosing a spot, I can study all of its recently seen birds and brush up on their calls in just one or two clicks. (Plus, there are often three or more different sound samples for variety, and most all common noises a species makes are included.)

I keep my life list here and though I am relatively new to birding, I’ve added almost 60 new birds to my life list in the two years I’ve had this on my phone! It’s a great tool to improve birding skills, and I’ve definitely become a better birder since I downloaded this.

More to love:
1) It’s free!
2) You can download a “field guide” of bird information to ID without Wifi - a lifesaver for No Service or data-saving birding
3) You can set alarms to tell you when certain birds are seen in an area. I live in the north, so I have one set for snowy owls!
4) If you see something unfamiliar, the app can help you narrow down your choices based on characteristics like state, time of year, size, color, shape, voice, flight pattern, tail shape, habitat, and wing shape. Very helpful.

If you’re on the fence, please try this app. I can’t recommend it enough!