In the Field
Tips and How-Tos
Birding
Use Tableau To Visualize Your Birding
Already using eBird? A little extra work in Tableau will give insight into how you bird—our conservation data specialist explains.
Birding
How to Use Radar to Track Birds
Radars may be designed to track storms, but flocks of can birds show up too. Learn to use that to your advantage.
Birding
How Twitter Can Make You a Better Birder
Harness the power of the tweet and up your rarity-finding success.
In The Field
A Guide to Finding Urban Owls
You don't have to live in the middle of the woods to see an owl. Here's how and where to spot five species in towns and cities across the U.S.
Birding FAQs
How to Tell If a Bird Is Albino
Not all white birds are albino, and not all albino birds are white.
Birding by Ear
Birding By Ear
How to Start Identifying Birds by Their Songs and Calls
Part one in our new series to help you build your birding skills—and love of birds—by learning how to bird by ear.
Birding By Ear
A Beginner’s Guide to Common Bird Sounds and What They Mean
Part two of our new series to help you build your birding skills—and love of birds—by learning how to bird by ear.
Birding By Ear
How to Memorize Bird Songs by Using Mental Images
Part three of our new series to help you build your birding skills—and love of birds—by learning how to bird by ear.
Birding By Ear
Why Knowing Your Local Bird Sounds Is the Key to Unlocking New IDs
Part four of our new series to help you build your birding skills—and love of birds—by learning how to bird by ear.
Birding By Ear
Start Using Spectrograms to 'Read' Bird Songs and Calls
Part five of our new series to help you build your birding skills—and love of birds—by learning how to bird by ear.
Birding By Ear
Are You Listening to a Bird Mimic or the Real Deal?
Part six of our new series to help you build your birding skills—and love of birds—by learning how to bird by ear.
Birding By Ear
Learn Your Local Birds’ Regional “Accents”
Part seven of our new series to help you build your birding skills—and love of birds—by learning how to bird by ear.
Birding By Ear
Listen—Birds Aren’t the Only Ones Singing
Part eight of our new series to help you build your birding skills—and love of birds—by learning how to bird by ear.
In The Field
Learn to Identify Five Owls by Their Calls
These hooters have surprisingly big vocabularies.
More for the Field
In The Field
A Birder's Workout Guide for Preventing Warbler Neck
By Jillian Mock
Feeling the burn during migration? Build your core muscles with these six expert-approved exercises.
In The Field
Four Quick Tips for Identifying Hybrids
By Nicholas Lund
A mix of two different species, these birds trick experts and novices alike.
In The Field
Find Northern Saw-whet Owls With These Five Tips
By Sharon Stiteler
One of our smallest owl species, they can be found in suburbs and cities.
In The Field
Ten Tips for Waterfowl Beginners
By Leslie Nemo
Ducks, geese, and swans are extremely common. Take advantage of that to sharpen your birding skills.
In The Field
Understanding the Basics of Bird Molts
By Alvaro Jaramillo
As the seasons change, so do birds' feathers. A birder should be prepared.
In The Field
A Birder’s Guide to Public Transportation
By Jason Ward
Trains, buses, bikes, ferries, and ride shares can get you to that rare bird. Here’s how to make the best use of these options.
In The Field
When It Comes to Birding, Nude Beaches Are as Good as Any
By Purbita Saha
Ever birded among the buff? You may not have a choice if a good species shows up.
In The Field
Why You Need to Try Paddle Birding
By Sharon Stiteler
When in a canoe or kayak, you can observe and experience birds in a new way—and bank some memorable adventures while you're at it.
In The Field
Shorebirds 101: What to Look for When You Hit the Water
By Alvaro Jaramillo
The diversity of shorebirds is stunning, but it can also be overwhelming. Here are four staple groups to get you started.
In The Field
How to Go From Watching Birds to Drawing Them
By Bryony Angell
Sketching while outdoors or even at home will broaden your birding skill set and add a whole new dimension to the hobby.
