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
5 min readCephas / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)What Is the Little Gray Bird That Showed Up When It Got Cold? Identifying the Dark-Eyed Junco
A small, round, gray-and-white bird suddenly appears under your feeders and along the shrub edges in fall, hopping on the ground and flashing white tail feathers when it flies. That is a dark-eyed junco — the bird so tied to cold weather that people call it the "snowbird." Here is how to recognize juncos, understand why they arrive now, and tell them from other little gray birds.
5 min readJudy Gallagher / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)What Are the Sleek, Crested Birds Stripping My Berry Tree? Identifying Cedar Waxwings
A tight flock of soft brown, crested birds descends on a berry tree, works it over in minutes, and vanishes — leaving thin, high whistles hanging in the air. Those are cedar waxwings, one of the most elegant and social birds of fall. Here is how to recognize a waxwing, understand their berry-driven wandering, and know when to expect them.
6 min readvoir ci-dessous / see below / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0)What Is the Cluster of Shelf Mushrooms Growing on the Dead Tree? Identifying the Oyster Mushroom
Overlapping, shelf-like mushrooms with smooth pale caps and deep gills appear in clusters on a dead trunk or fallen log in fall, often after rain. That look points to an oyster mushroom — but several look-alikes matter, so identification is about knowing the group and its dangerous imitators. Here is how to recognize oyster mushrooms and stay safe around them.
Take It on Your Next Hike
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Identification results are AI-generated and for informational purposes only. Always verify with a local expert or field guide.