Birding by Ear
There's a lot to look forward to in spring, including the welcomed hullabaloo of birdsong. 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.
A Few of Our Favorite Sounds
American Bittern
Latin:
Botaurus lentiginosus
Varied Thrush
Latin:
Ixoreus naevius
Red-tailed Hawk
Latin:
Buteo jamaicensis
Pied-billed Grebe
Latin:
Podilymbus podiceps
Tech
Meet Your New Birding-By-Ear Assistant
Amazon's Alexa can now access more than 2,000 birds sounds from the Audubon library—as long as you say the magic words.
More Birding Advice
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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.
News
Appreciate These Magnificent Avian Nests—and the Next One You Find in the Field
March 06, 2023 — Birds build an amazing variety of nest types, and each construction is a work of art.
News
What’s the Deal With Nyjer?
March 06, 2023 — The tiny black seed is a favorite of finches, but where does it come from? And why is it always capitalized?
News
Mixology: Breaking Down 5 Common Birdseed Blends
March 06, 2023 — With all the products available these days, sometimes the jargon and claims can get confusing. Here’s a quick primer.
In the Field
Learn to Identify Five Owls by Their Calls
These hooters have surprisingly big vocabularies.
Podcast
Is This the Most Beautiful Bird Song on the Planet?
According to famed ornithologist Frank Chapman, it is.
