9 Useful Nature Identification Apps
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Every day my kids and I take several walks around our neighborhood. Almost every day they ask me to identify a cool rock, an interesting bird, or a colorful flower. In the past, this was a problem because I wasn’t able to identify the items they were showing me. Thankfully, there are plenty of nature identification apps to help me answer all of their questions.
Most of these nature identification apps are available on Android and iOS devices.
Useful Nature Identification Apps
1. Google Lens
- Android
- iOS
Google Lens is an easy way to identify just about anything without downloading an additional app.
On Android devices, simply take a picture of the rock, bird, plant, etc. you want to identify. Select the photo from the photo gallery and then push the Lens icon on the bottom of the screen. Google will do the rest.
Google Lens can be accessed on iOS devices through the Google search app.
Rock Identification Apps
Rocks can be a little tricky to identify with an app because one of the defining characteristics of rocks is their hardness. Hardness can not be judged through a photo. Despite that limitation, there are a few apps with good ratings that can help identify rocks.
2. Rock Identifier
This free app will identify rocks using a photograph. The Rock Identifier promises to:
- Identify a variety of rocks
- Provide information about the physical characteristics
- Provide information about the chemical characteristics
- Build a personalized rock collection
3. Atlas of 3D Rocks and Minerals
This rock identification app has a classification chart for rocks that will help you identify rocks that you find. It does require you to have a basic understanding of the differences between igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks.
There is also a Mohs hardness chart available.
Bird Identification Apps
There are several nature identification apps that are designed to identify birds. Some of the bird identification apps work with photos and others work with audio.
Recently I checked out a bird identification book from the library. My goal was to help my kids identify the birds at our bird feeder. The birds fly away pretty quickly, though, so I think one of these bird identification apps will work better for my family.
4. Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab
Merlin Bird ID will identify a bird through questions or a photo. Simply either upload a photo or answer 5 questions. Once the bird has been identified, this app will give you information about the specific bird. You can even hear a sample of the bird’s call.
5. BirdNET
BirdNET identifies birds based on their call. Record a bit of the bird’s song and upload it to the app to find out which birds are singing in your area.
6. Audubon Bird Guide
The Audubon Bird Guide functions as a field guide with over 800 birds in the system. Select relevant characteristics (location, size, color, etc.) and see which birds meet all of the criteria.
Plant Identification Apps
My kids and I often see interesting flowers, trees, and even weeds while we are on walks. These plant identification apps will help us know what we are looking at.
7. PlantNet Plant Identification
PlantNet is able to identify over 20,000 plants with just a photo. This will work for pretty much any type of plant – tree, shrub, flower, vegetable, fruit, etc.
8. iNaturalist
iNaturalist is one of the few nature identification apps that helps users identify plants AND animals. Take a photo and crowdsource the genus and species from fellow nature lovers. This app is a joint project between the National Geographic Society and the California Academy of Sciences
9. LeafSnap
LeafSnap uses artificial intelligence to identify plants, flowers, trees, and shrubs.
Do you use any nature identification apps?
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