Merlin Bird ID vs Picture Bird:Which is more popular by branded search?
In August 2026, Picture Bird had more branded searches than Merlin Bird ID among bird identification apps worldwide. Picture Bird was estimated to have 74K branded searches compared to Merlin Bird ID’s 27.1K, and held a 12.9% Share of Search versus Merlin Bird ID’s 4.7%. These are worldwide searches for English-language branded terms.
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Which is more popular in search, Merlin Bird ID or Picture Bird?
Compare the apps used to identify birds. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time.
Share of Search by month for Picture Bird, Merlin Bird ID. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of search table
| Month | iNaturalist | eBird | Picture Bird | BirdNET | Merlin Bird ID |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 37.4% | 37.4% | 16.8% | 5% | 3.4% |
| Nov 2025 | 38.8% | 38.8% | 14.3% | 5.2% | 2.9% |
| Dec 2025 | 34.6% | 42.1% | 15.5% | 4.7% | 3.1% |
| Jan 2026 | 31.1% | 46.4% | 14% | 5.1% | 3.4% |
| Feb 2026 | 33.7% | 41.1% | 15.1% | 5.5% | 4.5% |
| Mar 2026 | 38.9% | 38.9% | 11.7% | 5.2% | 5.2% |
| Apr 2026 | 37.5% | 37.5% | 11.3% | 6.2% | 7.5% |
| May 2026 | 33% | 40.4% | 9.9% | 6.6% | 9.9% |
| Jun 2026 | 39.5% | 32.3% | 11.9% | 6.5% | 9.7% |
| Jul 2026 | 37.9% | 31.1% | 17.1% | 6.2% | 7.6% |
| Aug 2026 | 42.8% | 34.9% | 12.9% | 4.7% | 4.7% |
| Sep 2026 | — | — | — | — | — |
How has the Merlin Bird ID and Picture Bird comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Picture Bird was ahead of Merlin Bird ID in every measured month of the 11 months ending August 2026.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Merlin Bird ID’s estimated Share of Search among bird identification apps worldwide moved from 3.4% to 4.7%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 18.1K to 27.1K.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Picture Bird’s estimated Share of Search among bird identification apps worldwide moved from 16.8% to 12.9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 90.5K to 74K.
How did search popularity change for bird identification apps worldwide in August 2026?
2 changes
In August 2026, Picture Bird lost estimated Share of Search among bird identification apps worldwide, from 17.1% to 12.9%.
In August 2026, Merlin Bird ID lost estimated Share of Search among bird identification apps worldwide, from 7.6% to 4.7%.
How each brand is measured
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Merlin Bird ID’s and Picture Bird’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Merlin Bird ID
1 branded search term
- merlin bird id
Picture Bird
1 branded search term
- picture bird
Put your own brand in this comparison
Brandwave tracks your branded demand next to the rival you actually watch, with your campaigns, spend and outcomes on the same timeline.