Two Essential Apps for Birdwatching
If you are new to birdwatching, these two free apps can make your experience much more enjoyable and educational.
Although both apps are developed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, they serve different purposes.
📋 eBird — Your Personal Bird Checklist
Think of eBird as a digital birdwatching notebook.
eBird allows you to:
✅ Record the birds you see
✅ Keep a personal bird list (Life List)
✅ Track birds observed during each trip
✅ Save birdwatching records with date and location
✅ Explore bird hotspots and recent sightings
Many birdwatchers use eBird to keep track of how many bird species they have seen over time.
For example:
- Birds seen in Chiang Dao
- Birds seen in Thailand
- Total birds seen in your lifetime
After each birding trip, you can create a checklist and save your observations.
In simple terms:
👉 eBird = Bird Checklist & Birding Records
🐦 Merlin Bird ID — Identify Birds by Photo or Sound
Merlin Bird ID is designed to help identify birds.
You can use Merlin to:
✅ Identify birds from photos
✅ Identify birds from bird sounds and calls
✅ Learn bird names and appearance
✅ Compare similar species
✅ Explore bird information and distribution
One of Merlin’s most popular features is Sound ID.
Simply open the app and let it listen to bird sounds around you.
Merlin will suggest possible bird species in real time.
You can also upload a photo and Merlin will help identify the bird.
In simple terms:
👉 Merlin = Bird Identification Tool
How Birders Use Both Apps Together
A common workflow is:
Step 1
Use Merlin to identify the bird.
📷 Photo ID
🎵 Sound ID
Step 2
Record the observation in eBird.
📋 Create a checklist
📍 Save location
🗓 Record date and time
Example
You hear an unfamiliar bird calling in Chiang Dao.
- Open Merlin Sound ID.
- Merlin suggests “White-rumped Shama.”
- Confirm the bird visually.
- Add the species to your eBird checklist.
Recommended Before Joining the Tour
✅ Install Merlin Bird ID
✅ Install eBird
✅ Create a free account
✅ Download the Thailand Bird Pack in Merlin
Guide SunTan’s Tip
For beginners:
Use Merlin to identify birds.
Use eBird to record birds.
This simple combination is used by millions of birdwatchers around the world and is one of the best ways to learn birdwatching quickly.
Summary
| App | Main Purpose |
|---|---|
| Merlin Bird ID | Identify birds from photos and sounds |
| eBird | Record bird observations and maintain bird checklists |
Easy to remember:
🐦 Merlin = What bird is it?
📋 eBird = What birds did I see today?