ID Toolkit

The language of birds

To learn bird songs, listen carefully while watching the accompanying behavior

Contributed by David Allen Sibley
Published: April 22, 2011
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Contributing Editor David Allen Sibley explains how a basic knowledge of the repertoire and context of bird sounds is essential not only to help learn songs and calls but also to recognize patterns of variation, to know what a bird is likely to be doing while vocalizing, or to anticipate what sounds you might hear on a given day. A painting by Sibley of a singing Swainson's Thrush accompanies the article.

Read more about David Allen Sibley »
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