Conservation

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: 鈥淩ead鈥 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

Why Birding From Home Is Not An Equal Opportunity Activity
April 30, 2020 — Poorer neighborhoods often harbor less quality green space and a lower diversity of birds鈥攁n inequity that the pandemic makes hard to ignore.
EDIB at 爆料公社
It鈥檚 Me, Your Birder Friend鈥擧elp Me Help You Identify That Species
April 24, 2020 — Saw a bird but you're not sure how to describe it? Here are the details to include in that text to your bird-nerd buddy.
News
How to Tell Apart Sound-Alike Warblers
April 17, 2020 — Migrants have started arriving鈥攁nd with them, plenty of confusion. This guide to commonly confused songs will help.
News
Self-Isolation Is Turning Children Into Budding Birders
April 15, 2020 — During the coronavirus crisis, families are discovering their avian neighbors and nurturing the next generation of nature lovers.
COVID-19
Canceled Birding Festivals Deal Host Towns a Major Economic Blow
April 01, 2020 — As event organizers are forced to make tough decisions over coronavirus concerns, local businesses and nonprofits brace for the fallout.
COVID-19