Birding by Ear

There's a lot to look forward to in spring for birders.

The flowers are blooming, old friends are returning,  and birdsong is at its peak. The sheer volume of songs and calls can often feel overwhelming for birders, but these sounds offer an opportunity and a challenge. With our birding-by-ear series you can learn how to better ID birds through their vocalizations. 

Pt. 1: Start Listening for Songs and Calls
Pt. 2: Learn the Most Common Kinds of Sounds
Pt. 3: Connect Noises With Pictures That Stick
Pt. 4: Grow Familiar With Neighborhood Voices
Pt. 5: “Read” Sounds on Spectrograms
Pt. 6: Know If It's a Mimic or the Real Deal
Pt. 7: Learn Different Regional Accents
Pt. 8: Eavesdrop on Nature's Orchestra
A Few of Our Favorite Sounds
Adopt a Bird
American Bittern
Botaurus lentiginosus
Herons, Egrets, Bitterns
Priority Bird
Varied Thrush
Ixoreus naevius
Thrushes
Red-tailed Hawk
Buteo jamaicensis
Hawks and Eagles
Pied-billed Grebe
Podilymbus podiceps
Grebes

More Birding Advice

If You Can Identify Any of These Birds, You're Ready for Climate Watch
April 23, 2019 — And if you can't yet, learn them here so you can help Audubon track how certain species are adjusting to climate change.
News
What Nesting Materials Are Safe for Birds?
April 22, 2019 — Follow these dos and don'ts if you want to help your feathered neighbors build their homes this spring.
News
Birders Are Discovering a Secret to Better Big Days—the Bicycle
April 18, 2019 — More people see the allure of pedal power in a car-centric world.
News
Why Autism Makes the Outdoors More Beautiful—and Complicated
April 17, 2019 — A naturalist in Texas takes us birding from their point of view.
News
A Tribute to Bill Thompson III, a Birding Leader, Innovator, and Friend
April 16, 2019 — The affable, witty editor of “Bird Watcher’s Digest” built bridges for beginners and experts alike.
In Memoriam