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

Birdist Rule #104: Look at More Than Just Birds
September 08, 2016 — There's a whole world of plants and other species that you can also start identifying. What are you waiting for?
Summer’s Not Over Yet, and Neither Is Shorebird Season
September 02, 2016 — It’s September. Do you know where your shorebirds are?
The Yellow-Rumped Warbler Will Probably Be Split Into Different Species Again
September 01, 2016 — New genetic testing suggests the bird could be multiple separate species. Time to re-familiarize yourself with the Audubon’s and Myrtle Warbler.