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BirdWatching  •  Brian E. Small

Brian E. Small

Brian Small is a Los Angeles-based bird and nature photographer whose photos appear in the “ID Tips” column in every issue of BirdWatching. His work has been published in Time, The New York Times, Audubon, Nature Conservancy, National Wildlife, Wildlife Conservation, and many other publications. His photos also illustrate many field guides, including Kenn Kaufman’s Birds of North America, a series of state bird identification guides published with the American Birding Association, and his own Eastern and Western photographic field guides to the birds of North America published in 2009 with author Paul Sterry and Princeton University Press.

Brian E. Small on social media

Identifying Williamson’s Sapsucker

Identifying Williamson’s Sapsucker

By Kenn Kaufman, Brian E. Small
Published December 13, 2018

How to distinguish this western woodpecker from Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and Gila Woodpecker.

Identifying Orange-crowned Warbler and Tennessee Warbler

Identifying Orange-crowned Warbler and Tennessee Warbler

By Kenn Kaufman, Brian E. Small
Updated December 13, 2018

Kenn Kaufman describes what to look for to identify the variable Orange-crowned Warbler and the similar Tennessee Warbler.

Identifying Henslow’s Sparrow, Grasshopper Sparrow, and Baird’s Sparrow

Identifying Henslow’s Sparrow, Grasshopper Sparrow, and Baird’s Sparrow

By Kenn Kaufman, Brian E. Small
Updated October 3, 2018

Kenn Kaufman explains how to identify the nomadic Henslow’s Sparrow and its close relatives Grasshopper and Baird’s Sparrows.

Identifying Blue Grosbeak and Indigo Bunting

Identifying Blue Grosbeak and Indigo Bunting

By Kenn Kaufman, Brian E. Small
Updated October 3, 2018

How to tell these two easily confusable species apart.

Identifying Blue-winged Teal, Green-winged Teal, and Cinnamon Teal

Identifying Blue-winged Teal, Green-winged Teal, and Cinnamon Teal

By Kenn Kaufman, Brian E. Small
Updated October 3, 2018

Kenn Kaufman explains how to differentiate female Blue-winged Teal from two other dabbling ducks: Cinnamon and Green-winged Teal.

Identifying Black-capped Chickadee, Carolina Chickadee

Identifying Black-capped Chickadee, Carolina Chickadee

By Kenn Kaufman, Brian E. Small
Updated October 3, 2018

Kenn Kaufman explains how to tell Black-capped Chickadee apart from Carolina Chickadee, and he offers tips for identifying Mexican and Mountain Chickadees

Identifying Swainson’s Thrush, Gray-cheeked Thrush, and Hermit Thrush

Identifying Swainson’s Thrush, Gray-cheeked Thrush, and Hermit Thrush

By Kenn Kaufman, Brian E. Small
Updated October 3, 2018

Kenn Kaufman describes how to identify three lookalike thrushes: Swainson’s Thrush, Gray-cheeked Thrush, and Hermit Thrush.

Birders on the Go: Travel, Treks and Tours

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