Bird ID Apps
Here are useful bird ID apps for Australian birdwatching and how to use them ethically.
Why use apps?
Apps don’t replace books - they sit alongside them and make some things easier.
Apps are especially useful for:
Up-to-date information - taxonomic research will continue to change names and split species
Easier identification - many apps include photo ID, sound ID and side-by-side comparisons
Call recordings and sounds - you can listen to calls before you head out or double-check what you’re hearing
Field guides
There are paid digital versions of two of Australia’s classic field guide books - Pizzey and Knight’s Birds of Australia (PK Birds) and Morecombe’s Birds of Australia.
Both apps:
have step-by-step identification support
include text, illustrations and photos
let you search by name or family
provide bird call recordings
can be used offline once installed
can be used to record your life list
Merlin Bird ID
Merlin Bird ID is a free and global app created by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. It can:
suggest IDs based on a step-by-step questions
identify birds from photos
identify birds from sounds, using your phone’s microphone
show species info and habitat maps
can be used to record your life list
BirdNET
BirdNET is another free app by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. It is a sound-analysis tool that has (at the time of writing this guide) more Australian birds in its library than Merlin Bird ID. You record a short snippet of sound and the app suggests possible species.
It’s best used when:
there’s one clear bird calling
background noise is minimal
you want to isolate the call of one bird
you want to record and review calls later
Wingmate
Wingmate is a lightweight Australian and New Zealand birdwatching app that works as a simple digital field guide (like the apps above). It’s a lighter and faster app than some of the others and has a few extras including interactive hotspot map and community records, and photo ID using visual AI.
Ethical use of apps
Birds should come first when you’re birdwatching. Apps are fantastic tools and they need to be used with care:
Use headphones or very low volume when listening to bird recordings
Avoid taking photos of bird nests or young birds
Back away after one or two photos
For rare species, enjoy the moment rather than chasing a perfect ID
