Bird song - I'm getting old

[Fedupofthisgame]

Can anyone recommend a bird song app that identifies bird songs. I'm just moved and have a very mature garden with lots of birds I didn't have in my old garden. Preferably free but if I pay I want it to actually work. I few reviews I've read on some have been very poor.

I have used Merlin before. It’s okay, but doesn’t always have all the birds in your area. Which have you noted have bad reviews?

I’ve got Bird Guide Pro, and Chirp, which I think were free, and also Merlin.
if you have a look in your app provider there are quite a lot of free nature ID apps, butterflies, plants etc as well as birds.
enjoy your birds! My favourite is the blackbird.

Merlin app is v good in general. You can download updates for your area.

Good thread op. Im getting old too.

Merlin is great. Had its precursor for years when it was being developed by a US uni. Whichever app has the most users in your country will be best as it's constantly improving.

I use the merlin app. I think it's quite accurate. I am getting old too!

An overseas relative is a twitcher, and when on holiday in the UK they use the Merlin app.

I’m curious as to what’s missing - I’ve never noticed that as an issue either at home or on holiday. Except for not picking up the boom of a bittern but that may be a bit of an acoustic anomaly.

Merlin app didnt pick up the peacock that visited my garden 😂 but overall very impressed with it.

I use the Merlin app - it’s quite accurate and have spotted every bird that it picks up (apart from a Kingfisher, but was told there were two nesting there)

Merlin is the way to go, combined with the correct data pack for your country (all free)

The only thing I’ve really seen it struggle with is gulls and we’re not talking about knowing the difference between the sound of a herring gull and a common gull. It point blank refuses to pick up any gull sound for me, possibly because I’m a little bit inland (although not much - every house in my street has a gull nesting on it at the moment, so they’re definitely here and making a lot of noise)

it’s impressive on lots of other birds - tree sparrow vs house sparrow, pied wagtail vs grey wagtail etc etc

They’re not a native species. It didn’t pick up flamingoes when I was at a WWT place once. That’s a good thing!

I use Merlin too, it’s a great app

I use Merlin but also Birdex which doesn’t identify birds but allows you to record sightings and collect virtual bird cards. Sort of like a Pokédex but for twitchers. Helps me keep track of what I saw when.
Merlin has thrown me some unlikely identifications, but I don’t believe it unless I can visually verify or it picks up the same bird sound a few times over a period of time.

Indeed! Merlin picked up flamingos when I visited Sicily last year, proving that it will pick up these types of birds when they are in their normal range.

I’ve reported my own post - apologies! Perhaps should give up in this heat 🤣

Another vote for Merljn. My most prolific song bird is the Wren. Some days they never seem to stop.

Merlin

My son uses the Merlin app and says its really good. He used it on holiday in Morocco and it identified loads of new birds including nightingales!!

Hahaha why did I come here thinking you were on about THE bird song 🤣

Thank you for your suggestions. I downloaded the Merlin one yesterday evening and it's really good.

Next need a plant one because I have a very mature garden that I need to understand.

Merlin is good, enjoy.

Plant ID - I just use Google Lens. Take a photo, google lens it, then ask how to look after....

Just be aware that Merlin is very addictive, but also very educational.

On yesterday’s dog walk, I (Merlin), identified a sedge warbler, green woodpecker, wren, chiffchaff ( even I recognised that one 😀), jackdaw and greenfinch. Wonderful!