The National Audubon Society’s birding app is powered by more than 100 years of North American birding history (and e-Bird). It’s also incrediby beginner-friendly. Like Merlin, there is a step-by-step identification tool that offers filters for narrowing down the list of most-likelies of nearby birds. Unlike Merlin, the Audubon App currently supports only North American species.
But if you want an app to help you systematically build your field-based birding skills, I’m not sure there’s a better option than Audubon. One of its great strengths is that the app offers a variety of excellent identification filters. I find myself scrolling through the filters even when I’m not out birding because they’re great tutorials on the foundational elements of bird identification. Using the Audubon app has improved my observation skills by improving the parts of a bird I reflexive look for based on what information I need to populate the filters.
In addition to color, size and activity, the app also lets users filter by tail shape, wing shape, habitat, voice, and something Audubon calls “type.” Selecting “type” sends you to a page to choose from options, including “Gull-Like birds,” “Upright-Perching Water Birds,” “Owls”, and (my personal favorite), “Chicken-Like Marsh Birds.” (That filter was invaluable when I was trying to rapidly differentiate between gallinules). “Type” is helpful (especially for beginners) because if you’re unfamiliar with bird taxonomies and how they’re grouped, being able to look at a section called “Long-legged waders” instead of having to sort through storks, cranes, herons, ibis and allies builds confidence and enjoyment. (At least for me).
A note about the “Voice” filter as well. When I first started birding, the expert birders I tagged along with would often describe the bird sounds we were hearing as a “chirp or a chip,” a “buzz,” “trill,” “twitter,” or “warble” and I would nod along like I knew what they were talking about. One of the challenges of learning to bird by ear is that individual birds have a variety of different vocalizations, knowing the difference between a “trill” and a “buzz” helps you rapidly narrow potential species. The Voice filter lets you listen to the different sounds and put a name to what you’re hearing.
The Audubon App offers a variety of different ways to use the filters and you can choose which filters are most useful (or available) to you on any given sighting. It also offers an “Explore” section (powered by e-bird) that, with a click of an icon, will show you (depending on how you set up your location permissions) local hotspots and sightings).
You can use the bird identification features of the Audubon app without signing up for an account (free). But, if you want to keep your sighting list, share sightings, or have access to all of the app’s features, you’ll need to set one up.
Price: Free
Strengths: Bird identification (robust, structured filters); keeping a sighting list; contributing to science through its interface with e-Bird (free account through Cornell Lab of Ornithology required to use with e-Bird); wealth of “featured content” within the app itself so you can scroll the app for additional content even when you’re not actively birding.
Works without wifi/cell coverage: Yes. You’ll need to download the field guide when you install the app, but after that, it works without wifi or cell coverage. (I tested it in the Everglades and it worked great.)
Updates: Audubon keeps the app updated and regularly adds new features.