
In the Field
Tips and How-Tos

Use Tableau To Visualize Your Birding
BirdingAlready using eBird? A little extra work in Tableau will give insight into how you bird—our conservation data specialist explains.

How to Use Radar to Track Birds
BirdingRadars may be designed to track storms, but flocks of can birds show up too. Learn to use that to your advantage.

How Twitter Can Make You a Better Birder
BirdingHarness the power of the tweet and up your rarity-finding success.

A Guide to Finding Urban Owls
In The FieldYou 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.

How to Tell If a Bird Is Albino
Birding FAQsNot all white birds are albino, and not all albino birds are white.

Birding by Ear
How to Start Identifying Birds by Their Songs and Calls
Birding By EarPart one in our new series to help you build your birding skills—and love of birds—by learning how to bird by ear.

A Beginner’s Guide to Common Bird Sounds and What They Mean
Birding By EarPart two of our new series to help you build your birding skills—and love of birds—by learning how to bird by ear.

How to Memorize Bird Songs by Using Mental Images
Birding By EarPart three of our new series to help you build your birding skills—and love of birds—by learning how to bird by ear.

Why Knowing Your Local Bird Sounds Is the Key to Unlocking New IDs
Birding By EarPart four of our new series to help you build your birding skills—and love of birds—by learning how to bird by ear.

Start Using Spectrograms to 'Read' Bird Songs and Calls
Birding By EarPart five of our new series to help you build your birding skills—and love of birds—by learning how to bird by ear.

Are You Listening to a Bird Mimic or the Real Deal?
Birding By EarPart six of our new series to help you build your birding skills—and love of birds—by learning how to bird by ear.

Learn Your Local Birds’ Regional “Accents”
Birding By EarPart seven of our new series to help you build your birding skills—and love of birds—by learning how to bird by ear.

Listen—Birds Aren’t the Only Ones Singing
Birding By EarPart eight of our new series to help you build your birding skills—and love of birds—by learning how to bird by ear.

Learn to Identify Five Owls by Their Calls
In The FieldThese hooters have surprisingly big vocabularies.

More for the Field

A Birder's Workout Guide for Preventing Warbler Neck
Feeling the burn during migration? Build your core muscles with these six expert-approved exercises.

Four Quick Tips for Identifying Hybrids
A mix of two different species, these birds trick experts and novices alike.

Find Northern Saw-whet Owls With These Five Tips
One of our smallest owl species, they can be found in suburbs and cities.

Ten Tips for Waterfowl Beginners
Ducks, geese, and swans are extremely common. Take advantage of that to sharpen your birding skills.

Understanding the Basics of Bird Molts
As the seasons change, so do birds' feathers. A birder should be prepared.

A Birder’s Guide to Public Transportation
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.

When It Comes to Birding, Nude Beaches Are as Good as Any
Ever birded among the buff? You may not have a choice if a good species shows up.

Why You Need to Try Paddle Birding
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.

Shorebirds 101: What to Look for When You Hit the Water
The diversity of shorebirds is stunning, but it can also be overwhelming. Here are four staple groups to get you started.