How to Use iNaturalist to Identify Plants, Birds, and Insects

Have you ever spotted a colorful bird in your backyard or a strange mushroom on a walk and wondered what it was? iNaturalist is a free app that can help you find out in seconds. You take a photo with your phone, and the app's artificial intelligence compares it to millions of documented species to suggest what you are looking at. You do not need to be a nature expert — anyone can use it.

iNaturalist is more than just an identification tool. It is a global community of scientists, naturalists, and everyday people who log their wildlife sightings and help confirm each other's identifications. When you share your observation, it may contribute to real scientific research on biodiversity and climate change. Your backyard birds or neighborhood wildflowers can actually matter to scientists tracking species populations.

The app covers plants, trees, fungi, birds, insects, spiders, reptiles, mammals, and more. It works best when you take clear, well-lit photos that show the subject up close. For birds, try to photograph them from the side so markings are visible. For plants, a photo of the leaves, flowers, and stem together gives the best results.

iNaturalist is free to download and use. It is available on iPhone and Android. You can also visit the iNaturalist website on a computer at inaturalist.org. Your observations are tied to your account, so you can look back through your sightings over time — a wonderful nature journal that builds itself from your photos.

The app is a project of the California Academy of Sciences and National Geographic Society, so you can trust that it is built on solid science.