Attention all nature enthusiasts: Check out these must-have apps!

Do you ever see or hear birds outside and wonder which species they are? Would you like to quickly identify unfamiliar plants you come across in your yard or along the trail? Are you interested in connecting with other nature enthusiasts and sharing your observations to support conservation research?

Whether you’re a beginner looking for ways to get more in touch with your “nature side” or already an avid nature lover, these apps below can help boost your nature knowledge to the next level and get you more involved in citizen science projects centered around studying and protecting nature. (And, they’re all free!)

 

Bird Identification and Citizen Science Apps

BirdNET

Would you like to be able to identify birds just by their sounds? The BirdNET app can do just that!  This easy-to-use mobile app, developed by The Cornell Lab of Ornithology, can help identify thousands of birds across the U.S., Canada, Europe, and many other regions worldwide. Simply record a short clip of what you hear and submit it, and BirdNET will show you the best possible matches!

Learn more about BirdNET in this video:

 

Merlin Bird ID

The popular Merlin Bird ID app, also developed by The Cornell Lab of Ornithology, can help identify birds based on uploaded photos, sound recordings, and answers to a few basic questions. This all-in-one bird identification and education tool includes species found across the U.S., Canada, Europe, India, and Central and South America. This app can also work offline after you’ve downloaded the “bird pack” for your area – no signal needed! And just like BirdNET, it’s free.

Watch this video to learn more:

 

eBird

Would you like to help gather data for bird studies, from wherever you are, just using your phone? Check out the eBird app and join one of the largest biodiversity-related citizen science platforms in the world! This free, user-friendly app allows you to record and share your bird observations while on the go. Bird sighting data and photos submitted by eBird contributors are displayed on the eBird website for anyone to access, including scientists and students studying bird populations and diversity. This app is used by over a million people worldwide and is available in over 30 languages. In June 2025, eBird announced it had reached 2 billion observations!

Learn more about eBird in this video below:

 

Once you have the Merlin Bird ID and/or eBird apps, you’re all set to participate in these annual global birding events below!

• Great Backyard Bird Count in mid-February
• Global Big Day in May during spring migration
• October Big Day in October during fall migration

 

Nature Exploration Apps

iNaturalist

This is a must-have app for anyone who loves exploring nature and would like to connect with fellow nature lovers! iNaturalist not only provides a space for people to document, share, and discuss their observations of the living world, but it also shares the data submitted by its contributors with global biodiversity databases, allowing scientists to use it in their research. iNaturalist users can also participate in nature observation events or start their own!

Learn more about the iNaturalist app in this video:

 

Seek by iNaturalist

Seek by iNaturalist is a family-friendly app that makes exploring and learning about nature extra-easy! All you have to do is point the camera at any living thing – including plants, insects, and fungi – and Seek will instantly provide information on what you are looking at. Observers can earn badges for the things they discover, making it fun for kids, too!

Watch this video below to learn more:

 

 

Plant Identification Apps

There are a lot of plant identification apps out there to choose from, but not all of them allow you to share what you observe and get involved in nature research. Why not contribute your observations for a greater purpose and connect with a community of fellow nature enthusiasts at the same time?

Pl@ntNet

With the Pl@ntNet app, you not only have a great plant ID tool at your fingertips – you can also take part in collecting plant biodiversity data for research and conservation. This free citizen science app makes it easy to identify wild plants based on photos of their leaves, flowers, bark, or fruit.  You can then choose to share your observations with the PlantNet community so that they can be compiled and used in research.

Learn more about PlantNet in the video below:

 

Support nature as you explore

When it comes to nature identification apps, there are plenty to pick from. But the apps highlighted in this post go far beyond just identification… They help build awareness and community and provide a way for anyone to take part in something larger to support the natural world, from wherever they are. The more observations people contribute using these apps, the better we can understand the natural world that surrounds and supports us, and the better we can help protect it.

Would you like to stay even more connected?

Follow eBird, Merlin Bird ID, iNaturalist, and Pl@ntNet on social media!

 

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Want to get more involved in sustainable living and protecting nature?

Check out this post:

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