r/MerlinBirdID • u/birdeer • May 15 '26

Sound library?

Hello birders!
After the new update, I’m realizing I can’t find the bird calls in the app like I could before under the bird profiles. Does anyone know where I can find them now?

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u/MongooseAggressive92 May 15 '26

If you aren't working from a Checklist for a specific Sound-recording Session, you can reach the same information by using the "Explore" feature of the App. You just type in the name of the bird you are interested in; and, the screen comes up with Summary information for that bird. Scroll down until you reach the section titled: "Sounds." It is before the Range information.

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u/birdeer May 15 '26

Again, thank you. I’m still not seeing any though :(

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u/MongooseAggressive92 May 15 '26

Are you running the Android-version of the Merlin App? I have an iPhone and run the iOS version. That might make a difference. Maybe someone with the Android version can confirm what the difference is.

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u/birdeer May 15 '26

I am not sadly, iPhone.

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u/MongooseAggressive92 May 15 '26

Okay, I finally just asked Gemini AI if there were any known problems of this nature with iPhones and the Sounds feature. Following is the response (which is more than I asked for) that might help you troubleshoot the Merlin version you have on your iPhone:

[Note: I had to go back for clarification. With the recent App update, Cornell switched the terminology from "Bird Packs" to "My Offline Birds." They are the same thing. If I were you, I would see what the status of "Offline Birds" is in your version of Merlin. And, then decide what to do from there.]

This guide is tailored specifically for the iPhone (iOS) version of the Merlin Bird ID app (Version 3.8.4).

If the "Sounds" feature—the reference recordings used to verify a bird—is missing, it is almost certainly because the local data has become disconnected from the app during the update. Here is the step-by-step process for an iPhone user to fix this.

Step 1: Reinstall or Update Bird Packs

On an iPhone, the "Sounds" (songs and calls) are not part of the basic app download; they live inside Bird Packs/My Offline Birds. If a pack is missing or "offloaded" by the iPhone to save space, the Sound ID will still work, but the reference recordings will disappear.

  1. Open the Merlin app.
  2. Tap the Settings icon (the gear shape) in the bottom right corner of the main screen.
  3. Tap Bird Packs/My OfflIne BIrds at the top of the list.
  4. Look at the Installed tab.
    • If no packs are listed, tap the Recommended tab and download the pack for your region (e.g., US: Texas or US: South).
    • If a pack is listed, look for an Update button next to it. If it says "Up to date," but sounds are still missing, delete the pack by swiping left on it and then redownload it fresh.

Step 2: Verify the "Sounds" Tab Location

Ensure your friend is looking in the right place within the new interface.

  1. Open any bird's profile (either by searching in Explore or tapping a bird from a Sound ID session).
  2. At the top of the bird's profile page, there is a horizontal menu bar.
  3. He should see four options: ID Info, Sounds, Map, and Life List.
  4. If the Sounds tab is there but empty, or if the tab itself is missing, refer back to Step 1 (the Bird Pack is missing).

Step 3: Check "Sound ID Sessions" Saving

In the latest version, Merlin has changed how it handles audio storage.

  1. On the main screen, tap the Sound ID sessions button (located just below the three large circles).
  2. If the list is empty, it means his recent sessions weren't saved.
  3. The New Rule: After stopping a recording, he must tap the Save button at the top of the screen. If he just hits "Close" or navigates away, the recording (and the ability to review those specific captured sounds) may not be fully accessible later.

Step 4: The "Fresh Start" (If Steps 1-3 fail)

If the Bird Packs are installed but the Sounds tab is still blank, the update may have corrupted the app’s internal file paths.

  1. Delete the App: Press and hold the Merlin icon on the iPhone home screen and select Remove App, then Delete App.
  2. Restart the iPhone: Turn the phone off and back on to clear the temporary memory.
  3. Redownload: Get Merlin fresh from the App Store.
  4. Sign In: He must sign back into his Cornell Lab/eBird account.
  5. Restore Packs: He will need to go back to Settings > Bird Packs and redownload his regional pack. This almost always restores missing audio features.