A Review: Merlin

Finally, here's the tool non-birder's have been asking about for years: a tool that allows a user to upload an image of a bird for instant computer identification. It's called Merlin, and it's from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

I tested Merlin with some clear, easy shots, and then threw some harder ones at it:

As you can see, Merlin has not yet mastered the very fine points of identification. A fine human birder would take note of the orangish-red bill and legs plus pale primaries and put that together to get Forster's Tern, rather than Common Tern, which has darker primaries and a red bill and legs.

Let's take a look at some of the harder photos I threw at Merlin and how it did on them. 

Hooded Merganser--Wrong

Long-tailed Duck--CORRECT

Least Sandpiper--CORRECT

Wood Duck--CORRECT (the correct answer is the third one listed)