Megan Szostak, 26, was always a “bird kid”. Armed with her late grandfather’s binoculars and a field guide, she learnt to identify birds in her home city of San Francisco. But in recent years, her birding toolkit has grown to include something far more modern — a smartphone app.
“I had friends who probably wouldn’t describe themselves as birders, but more just curious about nature and the world around them, recommend it to me,” she said. That app is Merlin Bird ID, developed by Cornell University’s Lab of Ornithology, and it has become a global phenomenon. According to director Jessie Barry, it has been downloaded 42 million times overall, with 12 million of those coming in 2026 alone.
“Merlin Bird ID app downloaded 12 million times in 2026; birdwatching boom attracts younger users.”
The surge reflects a broader trend: birdwatching is booming, and younger people are among those flocking to the hobby. “We have minimal demographic information, but we can definitely see the shift to younger audiences,” Barry said. Reports suggest Gen Z birders have been heading to nature reserves in growing numbers, and the apps are attracting those who might not call themselves birders but are simply curious about nature.
Merlin Bird ID has come a long way since its 2014 launch in the US, when it could identify 285 common bird species from photos. Now, using machine learning and contributions from a global community of bird watchers who submit recordings, it can identify 11,000 species — nearly all that exist in the world. Its Sound ID tool alone has been used for 4.4 billion identifications.
However, seasoned birdwatchers caution that the app doesn’t always get it right. Some experts and charities have urged against relying too heavily on Merlin or similar apps — especially for recording official sightings. But the popularity of birding apps shows no sign of waning. Market intelligence firm SensorIQ says another bird ID app, Birda, has seen 31% more downloads this year.
For Megan, Merlin is a helpful addition, not a replacement for her field guide. “I think that it’s been a really great tool that I’ve integrated into my birding routine,” she said. With the app’s continued growth, more people than ever are listening to the birds around them — and wondering what they’re saying.