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

8 Great Summer Birding Trails
July 09, 2013 — Audubon’s guide to unforgettable trips that wend through charming towns and rural outposts while also connecting the dots between many Important Bird Areas.
Why Do We Never See Baby Pigeons?
April 12, 2013 — They do exist, but you have to know where to look.
How To Draw A Bird
October 30, 2012 — A new guide to bird drawing inspires a deeper connection with nature.
How to Tell a Raven From a Crow
October 22, 2012 — These black birds may belong to the same family and look similar in some ways, but several distinctive traits help set them apart.
Audubon Guide to Hawk Watching
September 07, 2012 — Ten awesome places to catch one of nature's greatest spectacles.