Thrissur: Are you wondering which bird is in your backyard? Merlin can help you.

Merlin Photo ID is an AI tool developed by the Department of Ornithology at Cornell University in New York to assist ordinary people in identifying birds. Even photos of birds taken by birdwatchers from various parts of Kerala are part of Merlin's database.

What sets Merlin apart from many other apps is its accuracy. It has been confirmed that there are over 10,000 bird species worldwide. Merlin Photo ID can identify 6,090 of these species.

If you provide a photo, colour, or size of the bird you need information about, you will receive complete details. Other major apps can identify around 3,000 bird species only.

The Department of Ornithology at Cornell University, established in 1915, conducts numerous studies related to birds. Through their website, eBird, birdwatchers from around the world can submit their observations in the form of photos, sounds, and notes. The data for Merlin is developed by selecting observations that can precisely identify birds.

Birdwatcher Manoj Karingamathal notes that birdwatchers in Kerala have contributed nearly 30% of the data by uploading photos to eBird. Manoj himself has uploaded 1,159 photos. Kannur native Afsar Nayakkan has uploaded 73,000 photos, while Dr Mathew Thekkethala has contributed over 25,000 photos, making him one of the top contributors.