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

A flock of Common Redpolls fly through a snowy field in golden sunlight.
This Year鈥檚 Bonanza of Boreal Birds Once Again Bears Out the Winter Finch Forecast
December 15, 2022 — As predicted, grosbeaks, crossbills, and other northern birds are on the move, visiting feeders and delighting birders. Prognosticator Tyler Hoar explains what goes into the annual projection.
News
A grid of six colorful photos of a wide variety of birds.
Log On and Team Up for a Whole New Type of Big Year
December 15, 2022 — 爆料公社 staff used eBird in 2022 for a count that emphasized collaboration over competition. Here鈥檚 how to launch your own group effort.
News
An illustration of 3 cartoon ducks鈥擲urf Scoter, Northern Shoveler, and Red-breasted Merganser鈥攅ach with labels describing distinctive features.
An Ode to Weird Duck Time
November 29, 2022 — Cartoonist Rosemary Mosco reflects on a season that鈥檚 special to her鈥攁nd not only because she invented it.
News
A flock of ducks flying in the same direction with an out of focus landscape in the background.
A Duck Hunter鈥檚 Tips for Quickly Identifying Waterfowl on the Wing
November 14, 2022 — Take limits require rapid ID of fast-flying birds鈥攁 useful skill for any birder. One waterfowler breaks down how she does it.
News
Binoculars and a cell phone on a wood table outside, the eBird app open on the phone shows nearby birding hotspots.
A Beginner鈥檚 Guide to Using eBird
October 07, 2022 — Birders and scientists alike have come to depend on this powerful platform. New to birding or intimidated by eBird? Don鈥檛 worry, we鈥檝e got you.
Birding