Conservation

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
Adopt a Bird
American Bittern
Herons, Egrets, Bitterns
! Priority Bird
Varied Thrush
Thrushes
Red-tailed Hawk
Hawks and Eagles
Pied-billed Grebe
Grebes

More Birding Advice

Insider Tips For The Audubon Bird Guide: North America App
October 01, 2015 — Make the most of your app with these tips and tricks.
Birding
Which Birds Are Expert Climbers?
September 28, 2015 — Woodpeckers and nuthatches prove that there's more than one way to climb a tree.
Podcast
A Beginner’s Guide to IDing Cooper’s and Sharp-Shinned Hawks
September 18, 2015 — The differences are subtle, but shape and size can help in a big way.
ID Tips
The Sounds and Sights of Nighttime Flights
September 18, 2015 — Take a seat outside and turn your eyes and ears to the sky.
Podcast
7 Birds Who Will Never Leave You And 1 That Really Ought To
September 18, 2015 — We pay our respects to the birds who never migrate.
Birding