Sierra Gorda, Mexico. Ewan Burns

In the Field

Tips and How-Tos

Lesley Val Adams/Great Backyard Bird Count Participant.
News

How to Use eBird

A powerful tool for tracking sightings can change the way you bird.
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.
News

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.
News

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
May 02, 2019 — 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
April 04, 2018 — 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
January 26, 2018 — 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
November 30, 2017 — 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
November 16, 2017 — 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
November 02, 2017 — 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
August 25, 2017 — 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
August 18, 2017 — 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
August 04, 2017 — 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
July 26, 2017 — Sketching while outdoors or even at home will broaden your birding skill set and add a whole new dimension to the hobby.