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

A Songbird for Mountaineers
June 29, 2015 — To find the elusive Bicknell's Thrush, be patient—and start climbing.
News
48 Hours of Birding (and Other Things): Oklahoma City
June 29, 2015 — Get a kick out of Scissor-tailed Flycatchers and Painted Buntings along Route 66.
48 Hours of Birding
Dare to Bare Your Bird Tattoo
June 26, 2015 — Check out the winning skin art from this year's Biggest Week warbler fest.
Photos
The Hoopoe: Emissary of Kings, Secreter of Stink
June 19, 2015
The Sketch
Wild Flamingos Return to Florida
June 01, 2015 — After a century-long absence, the elegant pink waders are back in the Everglades. But where did they come from?
Conservation