The Photo ID model from Merlin now powers real-time feedback in Manage Media, checking every photo and offering suggestions on possible misidentifications or drag-and-drop errors.
When Merlin offers a suggestion in Manage Media, tap the image for full details.
How it Works
Merlin uses artificial intelligence (AI) to identify birds. The model behind this new integration is powered by the same machine learning technology behind Photo ID in the Merlin Bird ID app, trained on millions of photos contributed to the Macaulay Library through eBird checklists (learn more about Merlin's Photo ID feature).
When you upload a photo to an eBird checklist, behind the scenes the Merlin Photo ID model looks for all birds in that photo, draws a box around each one, and assigns a species identification and score to every box.
Merlin Photo ID draws a box around every bird it can find in a photo, tries to identify the bird in each box.
While the model is running in the background on every photo, Merlin will only display suggestions under specific circumstances: Merlin will offer an alternative identification only if it is confident the reported species is not in the photo and is confident about an alternate species that is known to occur in the region on that date.
Beware: All AI can make mistakes, and Merlin is no different—let us know when this happens. When multiple birds are in the photo, Merlin can miss the subject bird and suggest the other species that it can identify, especially when the subject bird is obscured or cannot be identified with confidence. Evaluate each suggestion carefully and err on the side of caution—reporting your birds as slashes or "spuhs" when uncertain. Think of Merlin’s suggestions as input from an experienced birder, not definitive answers.
Frequently Asked Questions
I uploaded a misidentified bird and Merlin didn’t catch it. Is this working yet?
This first iteration of Merlin is very cautious in correcting misidentifications. In most scenarios, it will give no message.
Here are some common scenarios in which Merlin will NOT suggest an alternative identification:
- Merlin agrees with the species you reported.
- No birds were detected in the photo.
- Merlin detects birds, but cannot confidently identify any of them.
- Merlin detects too many birds (i.e., a large flock).
- Merlin is unable to detect the species you reported, and it can confidently identify at least one species, but that species is unusual in the region or on that date.
- You entered a slash, "sp.", or hybrid (see below).
What about subspecies and other taxonomic groups?
Hybrids, Slashes, and ‘Spuhs’
Merlin will only check identifications for media uploaded to species observations (including those entered at the subspecies level). Likewise, it will only suggest identifications at the species level. It will not try to identify a bird in a photo that is entered as a hybrid, slash, or "spuh". If you are uncertain that the suggestion is correct, use caution and instead consider reporting an appropriate slash or "spuh" option (i.e., Short-billed/Long-billed Dowitcher or shorebird sp.).
Subspecies
Merlin identifies birds and makes suggestions at the species level. This tool should not be used to confirm subspecies identification.
For example, if you report Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) but your photo shows Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon’s), Merlin will not display a suggestion because it does not differentiate between subspecies.
Likewise, if you report a Peregrine Falcon (Eurasian), the photo identification model will look for any Peregrine Falcon in your photo.
What if Merlin detects more than one bird species in my photo?
When Merlin analyzes a photo, it first tries to find the subject species in the image. If it can’t confidently find that species, it will look for other birds in the image and may suggest a different identification—but only if it’s confident about at least one of them.
Even if multiple species are present and confidently detected, Merlin will only show the one it is most confident about. It does not attempt to list every bird it finds in the photo.
What if I disagree with the suggestion Merlin makes?
Most disagreements happen when Merlin can’t clearly detect the bird you photographed—such as a snipe hidden in grass or a rare individual among a flock of common species. In these cases, Merlin may highlight or suggest other, more visible birds in the photo.
When Merlin can clearly find the subject bird, its suggestions are usually reliable. That said, we encourage you to thoughtfully consider Merlin’s feedback. Review your field guide, consult the Illustrated Checklist for your region, check the species’ expected status, and compare images in the Macaulay Library.
If you still believe your identification is correct and Merlin is mistaken, trust your judgment and keep your original ID. We recommend adding a brief note in the species comments explaining what Merlin suggested and why you disagree. You’re also welcome to contact us with details—this helps us improve Merlin for everyone.
Will Merlin get better with time?
Yes—Merlin will continue to improve. As we gather more photos, refine the model, and incorporate user feedback, its accuracy and confidence will grow. For this initial release, we’ve deliberately tuned Merlin to be cautious. That means it only offers feedback when it’s highly confident—so you may not see suggestions in every case.
As Merlin learns from more data and real-world use, we expect it to provide suggestions more frequently and with greater accuracy. Your feedback plays a key role in that process, so thank you for helping us make Merlin better.