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

Which Birds Produce the Most Hybrids?
April 20, 2018 — Here are the three groups you should pay especially close attention to.
How a Small Home in Arizona Became a Global Birding Destination
April 19, 2018 — Once somebody's backyard, Tucson Audubon's Paton Center for Hummingbirds attracts thousands of birders every year.
Now Resurgent, Ospreys Once Faced an Uncertain Future
April 11, 2018 — The “fish hawk” is an early sign of spring—and a conservation ideal.
Four Quick Tips for Identifying Hybrids
April 04, 2018 — A mix of two different species, these birds trick experts and novices alike.
Eleven Spring Birding Events to Get Psyched For
March 30, 2018 — There's a lot to look forward to as winter (finally) winds down.