Birding is a popular pastime for people of all ages. According to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, more than 45 million people enjoy watching birds. It’s a hobby you can pick up at any time, it’s ...

If the party involves technology, I usually arrive late. But I'm there now and having a wonderful time. With my new friend, Merlin. You know those smartphone apps that tell you what song is playing?

I’m not a bird watcher, but I’ve become a bird listener ever since downloading a bionic ear app to my phone. It lets me enter a different world, one where I’m surrounded not just by chirping but by ...

Watch this video that will help you learn how to easily identify the birds you see and hear in the wild and become the best ...

Spring is here, and the air is full of birdsong. The Merlin Bird ID app tells you what type of birds you’re hearing … plus it’s quick, easy and free. With this software from the Cornell Lab of ...

As of May 2026, the spring migration of hummingbirds is well underway, with the Broad-tailed Hummingbird reaching its breeding grounds in the western United States. While these vibrant birds are a ...

Next to insects, birds sadly seem to get short shrift from humans. We remain powerfully drawn to scenes of lions hunting in the Kalahari desert or rhinos jousting in eastern India, but remain mostly ...

Springtime and the world in early May is alive with birdsong before sunrise: to some, a discordant cacophony, to others, a heavenly, harmonious chorus. Gone are the days when you just grabbed your ...

Are you a bird person now? “Am I a bird person now? Am I a bird person now?” exclaims one incredulous TikTok user whose Merlin app detected a tufted titmouse, a cardinal and a Carolina wren within ...

When I hear a bird song I don’t recognize and Merlin gives me a common bird for the ID, I can listen on Sibley’s app. I run through the many examples for this bird. Note well: When you do this — open ...

We become desensitized to the common sounds around us—car alarms, chattering squirrels, the mechanical functions of modern living kicking on and off throughout the day. If you had asked me a week ago ...