Know WhatYou’re Looking AtIn Nature.
Point your camera at any plant, tree, flower, bird, insect, or animal. Get a full identification in seconds — with key features, habitat info, and regional range. Just ask, “what is this?”
Free to start · 5 free IDs a day · iOS & Android
Results are AI-generated and for informational purposes only. Not a substitute for expert advice. Terms of Use
Your Nature Questions, Answered in Seconds
Whatever you find outdoors, get the full story — species, habitat, and range.
"What mushroom is this?"
Get the species name, key identifying features, and known lookalikes so you can tell them apart. Learn what you're looking at — with habitat and range for every fungus.
"What animal is that?"
Get the species name, habitat, and behavior. Animal results include reference photos and field recordings so you can recognize it by sound the next time.
"Is this plant native here?"
The Regions tab shows native range, invasive spread, and nearby observations from iNaturalist — so you understand what you're looking at and where it belongs.
From Photo to Full Field Report
The same five-step flow — for every category. Tap or wait to cycle through.
Find Out What’s Around You — Before You Hit the Trail
The Discovery tab lets you explore and learn about species from all over — filtered to what’s in season near you right now. Browse iNaturalist data and identifications from other Spotter users to get familiar with what you might encounter before you head out.
- See what species are being spotted near you
- Filtered by season — what's active right now
- Browse by category — plants, animals, fungi, and more
- Reference photos and field recordings for every species
- Key identifying features at a glance
- Learn from iNaturalist data and other users' identifications
From the Blog
6 min readBruce Marlin / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.5)What Is That Loud Buzzing in the Trees? How to Identify Cicadas
That droning, pulsing hum on a hot summer afternoon is almost always a cicada. Learn to identify dog-day (annual) cicadas by sight and sound, tell them apart from periodical cicadas, and understand the harmless shells they leave behind.
6 min readBruce Marlin / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0)What Is Eating My Garden? How to Identify Japanese Beetles
Metallic-green beetles skeletonizing your roses and leaves in July? Learn to identify Japanese beetles, the grubs behind brown lawn patches, the native lookalikes they resemble, and what to do about them.
6 min readPhoto by Scott Bauer. / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)How to Identify a Tick (and Know If It Might Be Dangerous)
Found a small dark bug latched onto your skin or crawling up your leg after a summer hike? Learn how to identify a tick, tell it apart from other bugs, recognize the main disease-carrying species, and understand the safe next steps.
Take It on Your Next Hike
Download Spotter free. 5 identifications every day, no credit card required.
Need more? Spotter Premium unlocks unlimited IDs and full species detail — $4.99/mo, $29.99/yr (7-day free trial), or $59.99 lifetime.
Identification results are AI-generated and for informational purposes only. Always verify with a local expert or field guide.