[Tweeters] Use of Merlin app

[Philip Dickinson via Tweeters]

I would list it as empid, especially given Merlin’s regular suggestion that juncos are Chipping Sparrows. Indeed, remember that Merlin is only a suggestion, not a certain ID.

Phil Dickinson
Sent from my iPhone


> On May 2, 2024, at 6:25 PM, Kenneth Brown via Tweeters <tweeters at u.washington.edu> wrote:

> 

> 

> I use Merlin mostly when I'm birding alone.  I'm hard of hearing, using it alerts me to the possibility of nearby birds I didn't hear.  I don't list birds I didn't hear if I didn't see them.  I toured the Darlin Creek Preserve this afternoon, among the birds Merlin ID'd but I didn't list were Black-throated Gray Warbler, Hermit Warbler, Wilson's and Yellow warbler, Lesser Goldfinch and a couple of others because I didn't see them.  I did rely on Merlin for one species ID though, and now I'm wondering if I should have.  Hammond's Flycatcher appeared on my phone and I found the bird.  It was active and so not staying in place very long but it fit the description and I listed it.  After consideration, I have to say that without Merlin's prompting I wouldn't have been sure I could distinguish it from a Dusky Flycatcher.  In this situation, where voice is critical, is using Merlin to make that determination acceptable?  Or should I have listed it as an Empid species?  What does the birding world think?

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