Merlin Bird ID is a free app for iOS and Android. It covers over 10,000 bird species across the globe. With some setup, you can identify birds, view pictures, and listen to bird sounds offline.

To use Merlin offline, download bird data for your region in the app’s Settings. This step saves bird details, sounds, pictures, and ID tools on your device. Then, they’re available even without a signal.

Photo ID and Sound ID don’t need the full offline pack to work. Sound ID can still record or recognize bird songs in distant areas. But, to get the most accurate bird lists and charts, update your downloads with internet whenever possible.

How to use Merlin Bird ID without internet

Merlin bundles essential tools in downloadable files. This lets you identify birds even when there’s no cell service. Here’s a brief explanation of how it works offline and when it’s best to use these tools, whether you’re out in the field or traveling.

Overview of offline capabilities

Merlin sorts info on over 10,000 species into regional packs for your device. Each pack comes with profiles, photos, and some sounds. You can download more sounds for a bigger audio collection.

The app’s features like Explore Birds and likely-bird lists use this data. So, you can see bar charts and find birds for your area even offline. Photo ID works directly on your device, created with help from top researchers using large photo libraries.

Sound ID works separately and also doesn’t need the internet. It uses advanced tech to recognize bird songs in the U.S. and Canada.

When offline mode is most useful

Merlin’s offline mode is perfect for remote places or when you’re far from good phone signals. It’s a lifesaver for birdwatchers when the internet lets them down, keeping detailed bird info available at all times.

It’s also great for planning trips. Before heading to places like Hawaii or Europe, download the necessary packs. This way, you can get to know the birds of the area in advance, even without internet.

• Remote surveys and long hikes
• International travel with limited roaming
• Quick, battery-friendly IDs using local data

Downloading Offline Birds and region packs

Before going out, get the right packs for Merlin to work without a signal. It organizes offline content and lets you control storage space. Preparing ahead means fewer surprises outdoors and less battery drain.

Where to find My Offline Birds in Settings

To see your offline content, open Merlin and click the three lines at the top left for Settings. Then, choose My offline birds to view downloads and add more.

In My Offline Birds settings, you manage your downloads. Here, you can delete regions, monitor storage, and start new downloads for your trips.

Choosing regions to download

Species are sorted by region in Merlin. Scroll through to pick areas you’re visiting or studying.

The app might download local birds automatically online. But, manually downloading is better for trips away from internet for days.

• Select states or countries you often visit.
• For vacations, download Bird Packs for places like Hawaii, Central America, or Europe.
• Add regions near each other if you’re traveling across borders.

Download size options and additional sounds

Merlin lets you choose between compact and full downloads based on your storage needs. The small download has essential info and some bird calls per species.

If you desire more bird calls, pick the option for extra sounds. This choice increases the download size but aids in bird ID when offline.

Select small downloads if your phone’s storage is low. Opt for full versions for longer offline periods with more photos and sounds.

Setting locations ahead for offline Explore Birds use

Before going into the field, prepare Explore Birds to work without the internet. This makes sure you get helpful lists and charts even when offline. Setting up in advance allows the app to give accurate sightings and data from places you plan to go.

How to set a location in Explore Birds

• First, open Explore Birds and click the filter icon at the top right to see the filter options.
• Then, in the filter area, enter the location manually and set the date for your bird lists and charts.
• After that, save your setting so later, even without the internet, Explore Birds will show the right lists.

Using location history while offline

• Any location you add while online gets saved. You can access it even without the internet later.
• This way, you can quickly switch between places you’ve saved, whether you’re doing fieldwork or traveling.
• Create several offline location presets for different spots, like your local area or vacation places, to use anytime.

Always test your Explore Birds location settings before you leave. Ensuring you’ve set it up correctly means you’ll have accurate info for bird identification. This prevents unexpected problems and makes identifying birds faster when you’re out exploring.

Using Explore Birds to create offline likely-bird lists

Explore Birds offers an easy way to make lists before going out to bird watch. Just set your location online, choose a date, and Explore Birds offline shows you which birds you might see. This way, you can spend more time studying the birds that you’re likely to see at your spot.

To make useful lists for trips, just follow simple steps to filter and sort. You can adjust settings for how likely you are to see a bird, its natural environment, and the time of year. This makes your Merlin bird lists more helpful, especially when you don’t have cell service.

Steps to create a practical list:

• Open Explore Birds and tap the filter icon.
• Choose Filter by Likely Birds and confirm your saved location and date.
• Set Sort to Most Likely sort to rank species from most common to least common.

You can also sort birds by family but still focus on the more common ones. Picking Family – Most Likely is good for learning about birds of the same type at once. Merlin’s lists help you stay focused and keep your birdwatching list easy to handle.

Explore Birds lets you use helpful visuals offline, as long as you set your location while online. You can see eBird bar charts offline on each bird’s page, which show you when birds are in the area. These charts even highlight when birds that migrate are around, with a line marking today’s date.

How to use the bar charts in the field:

1. Make sure you set the location online first to access charts without the internet.
2. Open species pages in Explore Birds to see eBird bar charts offline.
3. Look at the charts to decide which birds to look for, depending on the season.

Using both the Filter by Likely Birds and the Most Likely sort, along with eBird bar charts, gives you a powerful toolset. This method makes it easier to learn about the most common birds quickly and reduces the time spent on rare birds.

Photo ID offline: taking and using photos without internet

Merlin’s on-device Photo ID makes bird watching fun even without internet.

Download the region packs. Then, identify birds in your photos offline. It’s quick and keeps your birding details private.

How Merlin’s Photo ID works without connection

Merlin’s Photo ID needs no internet thanks to its smart learning.

It has been trained on tons of bird photos. The Visipedia teamwork at Caltech and Cornell Tech made this possible. Now, it can spot birds from just your phone snap.

You tell it where you are and the date. Snap a picture, or pick one from your phone. The app even works with less-than-perfect photos.

Best practices for offline photo capture

• Make sure the bird stands out. Focus on its head, bill, and markings to get good results.
• For clearer photos, steady your phone. Try burst mode. Take many pictures from various sides.
• Show key bird features like wing and tail patterns. It helps the app and others confirm your find.
• A mini tripod helps when you use binoculars or scopes. It cuts down on blurry shots.
• Save your photos on your device. You can look them up or share them with eBird later.

Use these tips for sharp bird photos. Good photos help Merlin work better, even offline.

Using Sound ID and saved recordings offline

Merlin’s audio tools help you recognize birds by their songs, even without cell service. It uses machine learning to analyze bird calls, trained with lots of eBird recordings. This cool feature works for the U.S. and Canada and doesn’t need you to download anything. So, you can identify birds live without preparation.

How the live audio detector works

To start, just hit record and aim your device at a bird that’s singing. Merlin then shows you what bird it might be, with a confidence score and sound clips. The app keeps checking its huge sound library to guess more accurately as it hears more.

Tips for better offline results

• Get close to the bird and cut down on background noise for better sound pictures.
• It’s smarter to record many short clips. They help tell birds apart better.
• Try recording at dawn. Many birds sing then, making it easier to identify them.

Managing saved audio files

Merlin saves your bird recordings in “My Sound Recordings” on its main screen. These files can fill up and slow down your phone. It’s a good idea to check them now and then. Decide which ones you want to keep and which to delete.

Cleaning up Sound ID storage

1. Look at My Sound Recordings and listen to clips to decide what stays.
2. You can delete many files at once if they’re old or not clear.
3. In My offline birds, there’s an option to trash sounds you don’t need.

To smartly manage your sound files, start with the big, unnecessary ones. Cleaning up your Sound ID storage makes room for new sounds. It also helps Merlin work swiftly when you’re out birdwatching.

Saving storage space for offline use

Making Merlin app slim helps with field studies. You can save space on your phone and still have offline access to bird IDs and sounds. Use app features to manage big files and skip a full app redo.

Clean up space option in My Offline Birds

Go to My Offline Birds and hit Clean up space. This gets rid of bird data you don’t need from areas you haven’t downloaded. It clears Merlin storage by removing old files you’re not using.

Do this every time you change region packs. It cuts down Merlin storage when you have too many downloads or leftover data on your gadget.

Removing downloaded sounds and selective downloads

If you’ve got all the sounds for an area, pick that area in My Offline Birds. Use the Remove button to delete those sounds. This way, you lose the sounds but keep the main bird info.

Try downloading only what you need. For most trips, a small download works. Add more sounds only for important areas. This method frees up space while keeping key sounds ready for offline use.

• Check My Sound Recordings and delete any sounds you don’t need.
• Download sounds selectively, as Merlin suggests, for the best use of space.
• Use Clean up space after big updates to quickly cut down on storage.

Linking eBird and life lists for offline planning

Linking your eBird account to Merlin makes it a powerful offline tool. It checks off birds you’ve already logged on eBird. This helps you organize your birding trips better.

The process is simple, and it makes offline exploration much smoother.

Link your eBird account

Start by opening Merlin’s menu (three green lines at the top left) and select “eBird Life List.” Log in with your eBird details to connect both applications. This sync pulls your sightings into Merlin, showing check marks next to reported species.

Once you’ve connected eBird and Merlin online, the data stays ready for planning. Before you go off-grid, use saved spots and “Most Likely” sorting. This prepares you for focused birdwatching.

Hide species already on your life list

In the Explore Birds section, there’s an option to hide birds you’ve already seen. This creates a personalized list of new birds to find. It’s useful for trip planning.

Always sync your data before disconnecting from the internet. After syncing, hiding birds from your life list works with Merlin’s offline features. This sharpens your focus on new birds during outdoor adventures.

• Sync first: link eBird Merlin while online.
• Create presets: choose locations, sort by Most Likely, then hide life-list birds.
• Use offline: leverage Merlin life list offline for effective field research and bird tracking.

Tips for preparing Merlin before travel or fieldwork

Prepping ahead makes your field time more calm and productive. Follow this guide to get Merlin ready for travel, ensuring it’s set when you’re offline. These steps create a practical checklist for using Merlin offline. They include tips to help you focus on birds instead of fiddling with settings.

Start with a simple task list while connected to Wi-Fi or cellular. Doing this saves you time and lowers frustration if you lose connection.

• Open Merlin and download region packs into My offline birds for each destination.
• Set Explore Birds locations for every site you plan to visit so the app can offer local lists offline.
• Sync your eBird life list if you use eBird to keep records aligned across apps.
• Update the app and allow any automatic refresh so recent data and sounds are current.
• Review My Sound Recordings and delete old files to free storage before adding new content.

Follow these next steps for efficient study time. They help you focus on birds you’re likely to see and create a valuable list for learning.

1. Open Explore Birds for your destination and set the date for your visit.
2. Turn on the Likely Birds filter and sort by Most Likely to create a list of birds to study first.
3. Read species accounts, look at photos, and listen to sounds included in the region pack.
4. Download additional sounds for birds hard to identify by sight only, like certain warblers or sparrows.
5. Check eBird bar charts to understand seasonal activity, focusing on migrants or species present during your visit.

These tips for planning with Merlin reduce guesswork in the field or during casual bird watching. Having a clear Merlin checklist ensures you’re prepared to observe, record, and enjoy each bird you encounter.

Advanced offline features and lesser-known tools

Merlin offers several advanced offline features that make travel and fieldwork easier. These tools bundle useful data, sounds, and images. This lets you identify birds without needing a connection. Use them to study species you’re likely to see, compare how they look in different areas, and keep your device organized.

Begin by exploring the Bird Packs section in the main menu. The curated Merlin Bird Packs focus on places like Hawaii, the Caribbean, Central America, and Europe. Each pack has species, calls, and images ready for you to download before your trip.

• Bird Packs are periodically updated; always check for new ones when planning your travels.
• By combining Bird Packs with Explore Birds location presets, you can study the most likely species for your destination.
• If storage space is an issue, opt for smaller packs to keep essential species offline without using up too much room.

Merlin’s photo galleries display regional plumage variation, different sexes, and age groups for many species. They’re very helpful for identifying birds when their looks change across different places.

• The galleries feature examples like the Song Sparrow and Red-tailed Hawk to show how they differ from place to place.
• The photos in the galleries are part of regional packs and can be used offline once downloaded.
• Try using these images together with Photo ID, especially when a bird doesn’t match its common illustrations.

To fully use Merlin’s offline features, plan your downloads based on where you’re going and for how long. Focus on packs and galleries for places with lots of plumage variation.

Always update your offline files and delete the ones you no longer use. Doing so saves storage space and ensures your offline tools work well when you’re out exploring.

Conclusion

Merlin offline summary: Getting ready is key for using Merlin Bird ID without internet. You should download region packs in My Offline Birds. Also, set Explore Birds locations early, and sync your eBird life list. This makes your app ready with all you need, even without service.

With this setup, you can reach Likely Birds lists, most-likely sorts, and eBird bar charts offline.

Photo ID and Sound ID can be used without internet too, letting you identify birds by sight or sound right away. Sound ID works apart from Offline Birds. It lets you save recordings to check on difficult sounds when you have time. To save space, remove recordings you don’t need. Add new sounds only if they are important for your journey.

Before you go, look at the Most Likely lists and pictures from the area. Choose Bird Packs for places you’ll visit and learn about birds you’re likely to see. This plan includes downloading, setting locations, managing storage, and studying important lists. It helps you make the most of Merlin Bird ID offline.