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
American Bittern
Herons, Egrets, Bitterns
! Priority Bird
Varied Thrush
Thrushes
Red-tailed Hawk
Hawks and Eagles
Pied-billed Grebe
Grebes

More Birding Advice

People wearing life vests look through binoculars while sitting in canoes on a river.

The Single Most Important Way to Make Your Binoculars Last

June 30, 2023 — Experts share how to keep your foremost birding tool in working order and what to do if yours breaks.
A woman looks something up on her phone in a forest, while high school students to the right hold up a plant and look through binoculars.

Don’t Have Binoculars To Go Birding? Try Borrowing a Pair From the Library

June 30, 2023 — Libraries across the country are lending gear to patrons, creating a new entry point to birding with no costs attached.
An illustration of a robot reaching up with one arm towards a hovering red bird.

Can New AI Chatbots Like ChatGPT Help You Identify Birds?

April 04, 2023 — ‘Audubon’ magazine’s intrepid AI expert pushed the cutting-edge technology to its limits on field marks, native plants, and ... Mr. Bean?

Why You Should Scale Up Your Birding By Looking for Reptiles

March 23, 2023 — Lower your binoculars and expand your next trip by seeking out snakes, lizards, and amphibians. Here are some expert tips to get you started.

This Wave Theory of Spring Migration Will Prepare You for Your Next Birding Outing

March 06, 2023 — Songbirds don’t leave their wintering grounds all together. Here’s when to expect different species as they cross the eastern United States.