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: “Read” 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

Day 43: Hitting the Bird Ceiling
February 13, 2015 — Even while spotting 100 species, just one was new for Noah’s Big Year.
Day 42: Backyard Birds
February 12, 2015 — Noah didn’t have to go too far to find some amazing species.
Day 41: Super-Endemic Brazilian Birds
February 11, 2015 — Another day of birding in Brazil gets Noah close to 1,000 species.
Day 40: The Snipe Hunt
February 10, 2015 — Noah celebrates a special day with a special bird.
Day 39: From Early Flights to Late Birds
February 09, 2015 — Noah leaves Belem for his last Brazilian location.