Frequently Asked Questions

Don't sweat it – this happens to the best of us. If you are unsure of a species identification, please use a broader taxonomic group such as “sparrow species” or “hummingbird species” to describe your observation. If you can’t narrow down the bird to a broader group, just use “bird species.”

Please do not report species that you are not confident you observed. Instead, if you are unsure of a species identification, please use a broader taxonomic group such as “sparrow species” or “hummingbird species” to describe your observation. If you can’t narrow down the bird to a broader group, just use “bird species.”

Take heart: eBird benefits from a network of volunteers who review checklists for any unusual sightings and help us ensure data quality.

Great question! Merlin Bird ID is a useful tool for beginner and expert birders alike. This app helps you identify birds you observe by sight and/or sound.

Spot a bird? Just answer five simple questions about the bird, and Merlin will generate a list of species that match your description.

Want to know which birds are calling or singing? Start recording, and Merlin will suggest species that match those vocalizations in real time.

Merlin is a great resource to consult on the go and works very well for most common birds, which are the focus of Project Phoenix. However, like all predictive models, Merlin is not perfect, and birders should be mindful when reporting rare birds.

BirdNet is another useful tool that supports birding by ear. We recommend the following best practices when using Merlin Sound ID or BirdNet:

—> Turn your location services on. Neither Merlin nor BirdNet will work well if the apps don’t know where you are and which species are likely to be near you!

—> If Merlin/BirdNet suggests species you have previously observed at your monitoring site, or you know the call or song, go ahead and report that species.

—> If Merlin/BirdNet suggests a species that is new to you, particularly if it is rare, try to confirm the species visually. And remember, you can always report larger taxonomic groups on your checklists if you're not sure (e.g., "finch species" or "hummingbird species").

If eBird indicates that an observation you’ve made is “rare”, that means that either the species is infrequently detected in your area during this time of year, or the number of individuals you have observed is higher than counts typically reported. It’s a sign that you should double-check to make sure you haven’t made a mistake (e.g., entered the wrong species or number) and think critically about other possible identifications. If you can, try to take a picture with a camera or your phone – even a terrible photo can be a big help!

But importantly, this does not mean that your identification is wrong! However, eBird will request that you provide additional information in the comments field for that particular observation. Please describe the bird(s) in as much detail as possible, and indicate how you made the species identification (e.g., field guides, apps, Merlin Bird ID, etc.). Note that reviewers really want the specifics of any identification, so please be as detailed as possible. If you are really unsure, feel free to reach out for help with ID. Consider posting a question in the “What’s this Bird? - American Birding Association (ABA)” Facebook group, which is dedicated to providing a safe and supportive learning environment for bird ID. Our team is also available to assist with bird ID.

After you submit your eBird checklist, don’t be surprised if an eBird reviewer follows up over email to confirm your observation, or help you determine a more likely identification. That is their job! This process helps us ensure that observations reported to eBird are accurate, to the best of our collective birding ability. (The vast majority of eBird reviewers are kind, helpful, and professional, but every once in awhile someone might be having a bad day. If you ever receive an email from a reviewer that makes you feel uncomfortable or discouraged, please notify our program director.)