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

How the Birdchick Got Her Groove
January 01, 2015 — Sharon Stiteler discusses birding in a different time, without binoculars or the Internet.
Bird Talk with Jane Alexander
January 01, 2015 — For this Tony Award-winning actress, avian conservation is a big part of being a birder.
Courtesy Karl Mechen
How to Become an (Inept) Birder: Stumble Into It
January 01, 2015 — Karl Mechem, better known as the Inept Birder, recalls his first dalliance with birding, and marvels at how far he’s come (sort of).
Courtesy of Jonathan Franzen
Jonathan Franzen Talks Birds
January 01, 2015 — The best-selling author calls discovering birds “the third major revelation of my life."
Courtesy of Katie Notopoulus
Birding as Internet Antidote
January 01, 2015 — A senior editor at BuzzFeed explains how an Internet rabbit hole led her to a web-free hobby.