Merlin Bird ID just got an update. Did yours?
Issue 1 · Oct 13–19, 2026. This build makes photo identification simpler: add a location and submit a whole picture, alongside bug fixes and behind-the-scenes improvements. It is worth installing now if Google Play offers it; the next screen has the details.
About 2 minutes · what changed, then Google Play
Start NowWhat changed this week
These are the three changes in Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab 4.2 that stand out in the developer's update notes and on its Google Play listing this week.
- 01Submit photos without cropping first
Photo identification now lets you submit a whole picture instead of cropping it first, making the image step more straightforward when you want help identifying a bird.
- 02Add a location with your picture
When identifying a bird from a picture, add the location as part of the process. Merlin uses that information along with the full photo to help with identification.
- 03Bug fixes and improvements
This build also includes bug fixes and behind-the-scenes improvements, alongside the changes to photo identification described for this release.
Our call on whether to update, and the link to the official Google Play listing, are on this issue's Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab page.
Also updated this week
Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab is one of 50 apps with a full screen in Issue 1. Next up in this issue:
Tips
- Use the whole bird photo
For a photo identification, select the picture that shows the bird and add its location before submitting it. This build’s notes say you no longer need to crop the picture first. A clear image can make it easier to focus on the bird you want Merlin to identify.
- Try identifying a bird by song
When you hear a bird but cannot get a useful picture, try Merlin’s sound identification by recording its song. The app is designed to identify birds you hear as well as birds you see. Bird packs provide photos, songs, calls, and identification help for regions around the world.
- Explore birds in your region
Use Merlin to explore birds in a region and learn from the identification tips, range maps, photos, and sounds listed for species. Bird packs contain regional content, so choose material that fits where you are birding. This can help you compare a possible identification with additional bird information.
Menu names follow the developer's help pages and can differ slightly between versions and phones.
How we write the digest
Each week we check the Google Play listings of the apps our readers use most: the version number, the update date and the developer's What's new notes. When an app has a new version, we put the developer's update notes and the listing details together on one page, in plain words, with a link to the official Google Play listing. Google and most developers release updates in stages over several days, so a version listed here may not have reached your phone yet. GoCompareNow is an independent site and is not affiliated with any developer. This page doesn't read your phone or your Google account, and nothing is installed from here.
FAQ
Is this the official list of Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab changes?
No. This is an independent site and is not affiliated with Cornell Lab of Ornithology. The app’s Google Play page is the authority for its official listing and release information. Check that page for the latest details shown by the developer before deciding whether to install.
Why does Google Play show Open instead of Update?
Google Play may show Open when the build is already installed or when the update is not yet offered to your account. App updates can also reach people at different times through a staged rollout. Check the app’s Play page again later; if Update appears, you can install it from there.
Can Merlin identify a bird from its song?
Yes. Merlin is described as helping identify birds you hear as well as birds you see, and the app offers sound identification by recording a singing bird. It also provides bird packs with songs and calls, along with photos and identification help for regions around the world.