Agreeing With an ID

Agreeing is the simplest way to support a correct ID and help observations get confirmed.

When to Agree

Agree when:

  • You’re confident the ID is right from the photos and details.
  • You can see the features that distinguish it from look-alikes.
  • The habitat and substrate fit the species.

Don’t agree if you’re guessing. Agreements can confirm observations, so accuracy matters more than anything.

Agreeing on the Website

  1. Open the observation.
  2. To agree with the observation’s current ID, click Agree with ID.
  3. To agree with an earlier ID, such as the observer’s original, click Agree with ID on that ID’s card in the Activity section.
  4. To agree with someone’s suggestion, click Agree on that suggestion in the Activity section.

Agreeing in the App

  1. Open the observation.
  2. Tap Agree on the ID you agree with, either the observation’s ID or a suggestion in Activity.

What Happens When You Agree

  • Your agreement appears in the observation’s activity feed.
  • The observer is notified, according to their email settings.
  • Your agreement is a vote for that ID. When the ID is clearly ahead of every other ID, the observation is confirmed automatically. See How the ID System Works.

Once you’ve agreed with an ID, the button disappears for you. It comes back if a new ID is suggested.

Who Can Agree

  • Observers and Identifiers agree with IDs on other members’ observations.
  • An Identifier’s agreement counts for more: an ID an Identifier backs is confirmed with a smaller lead. See Confirming IDs as an Identifier.
  • You can’t agree with the ID on your own observation. Agreeing with a suggestion on your own observation changes your observation to that species, just like accepting it.
  • Genus-level IDs can’t be confirmed, so they don’t have an Agree button, except on a genus suggestion that says the species can’t be identified from the observation. Suggest a species instead if you can tell what it is. See Understanding Genus-Level ID.

Changing Your Mind

Only your latest opinion counts. If you agreed but now think the ID is wrong, suggest the species you now think it is and your vote moves to it. A short comment explaining why helps everyone.

Tips for Good Agreements

  • Look at every photo, not just the first one.
  • Check the underside, stem base and habitat.
  • If in doubt, ask a question instead.

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