Bird identification
Identify the bird, then keep the sighting
Identification is the beginning of a record, not the end of it. Feather Journal helps you name the bird, then keeps everything around it.
Quick answer
Feather Journal can suggest likely species from a photo you take, along with alternatives and how confident the match is. You confirm what you actually believe you saw, and the sighting is saved with its date, place, notes and photo.
How it works
- Take or upload a photo of the bird
- Feather Journal proposes candidate species with confidence and alternatives
- You confirm, choose an alternative, or search manually
- The sighting saves with date, place, count, habitat and notes
Honest about uncertainty
Distant, backlit, moulting and juvenile birds are genuinely hard. When a photo can't support a confident match, Feather Journal says so — and never blocks you from recording what you saw.
Identification is one part of the product
Merlin can help you identify a bird. eBird can help you record observations for science. Feather Journal is where your personal birding life lives — the sightings, photos, places and journal that accumulate over years.
Common questions
Can I record a bird I couldn't identify?
Yes. Save the sighting with a description and photo, and identify it later when you have more to go on.
How accurate is photo identification?
Good on clear photos of common species, less reliable on distant, obscured or immature birds. Always check the suggestion against range, season and habitat.