How the appearance of birds can be deceiving
When birds move, their look can change due in part to the lengths of various feathers.
David Sibley
David Sibley writes the column “ID Toolkit” in every issue of BirdWatching. He published the Sibley Guide to Birds in 2000, the Sibley Guide to Bird Life and Behavior in 2001, and Sibley’s Birding Basics in 2002. He is also the author of the Sibley Guide to Trees (2009), the Sibley Guide to Birds-Second Edition (2014), guides to birds of eastern and western North America (2016), and What It’s Like to Be a Bird (2020). He is the recipient of the American Birding Association’s Roger Tory Peterson Award for lifetime achievement in promoting the cause of birding and a recognition award from the National Wildlife Refuge System for his support of bird conservation.
David Sibley on social media
Keep an open mind when identifying rare birds
When we spot an apparent rare bird, it’s critical to consider other possibilities.
Recognizing subtle patterns on woodpeckers
A close look at two common woodpeckers reveals subtle, yet variable, differences.
David Sibley takes a close look at American Avocets
Even a bird expert and field-guide author can learn more about birds by actively observing and asking questions.
Appreciating wingbars
Why it’s worth learning about the variety of colors and patterns that appear on a bird’s folded wing.
David Sibley explains variability in songbirds
Why the appearance of first-year birds in the same species can differ significantly.
Distinguishing House Sparrow will help you identify other sparrows
David Sibley provides tips for sorting out House Sparrows from New World Sparrow species.
How the sizes of birds’ various feathers influence color patterns
To understand birds better, take a closer look at feathers.
Why lighting conditions can throw birders a curveball
David Sibley warns of the tricks light can play on birders when it comes to identification.
Identifying birds when their feathers are wet
How feathers react after a drenching can affect our perceptions of birds’ appearances.
Learn to differentiate finches and sparrows
Use these tips to identify two of the most prominent groups of streaky brown birds.
How to use birds’ rump color as a field mark
Understanding how and when feathers on the rump are visible can improve your birding skills.
Birds to look for when winter winds kick up
Across much of the world, winter is a season for studying waterbirds, and if you have access to a large body of water (ocean, large … Read More “Birds to look for when winter winds kick up”
Patches in birds’ tail feathers can lead you to ID them
What to watch for when birds flash their tails.
How to find birds in extremely cold weather
When temperatures drop, birds require food and shelter.
Tips for tropical birding
Basic binocular skills can help you locate birds within dense foliage.
Why birds pump their tails
The behavior is a signal to predators to move along.
The value of actively observing birds
Why you should take a little extra time to look at birds.
Why most birds look their best in fall plumage
With new and unblemished feathers, David Sibley makes the case for birds looking their finest in fall.
Northern Flicker’s fascinating color differences explained
David Sibley describes the two common forms of Northern Flicker — Red-shafted and Yellow-Shafted — as well as intergrades and rare abnormally colored birds.
How birds fly and move in foliage can help you ID them
Understanding variations in bird flight and behavior can put you on the path to identifying birds more quickly.
Follow a bird’s gaze to find overhead raptors
Why it pays to read the glances of doves and sparrows.
Identifying waterbirds in winter
How sleeping postures can help you identify distant ducks, loons, grebes, and other waterbirds.
Why a crow might not appear to be ‘all black’
A closer look at crows.
Keys to identifying shorebirds
Start by learning to recognize the four distinct groups of beach-combers.
What birders should know about wing feathers
Focusing on wing coverts can lead to further insights about birds.
Understanding birds’ habitat can help you identify them
A successful birder will be able to use habitat as a clue to identifying birds — and also quickly set it aside when necessary.
To identify distant waterbirds, learn their flocking behavior
In winter, identifying waterbirds is often challenging because the birds are too far away to see details. Understanding flocking behavior can help.
What to look for as birds molt their worn-out feathers
Late summer is the time of year when many birds replace their feathers in a process called molt. Old feathers, most of which have been … Read More “What to look for as birds molt their worn-out feathers”
How waterfowl hide their wings
Become a better birder by understanding where feathers go when wings are folded.
David Sibley explains eye-rings
Learn how the shape and pattern of feathers around the eyes can help you identify birds.
David Sibley explains how to point out a bird’s location
Sign up for our newsletter, full of identification tips, news, and more! Discussions of birding skills focus mainly on finding and identifying birds, but being … Read More “David Sibley explains how to point out a bird’s location”
David Sibley explains why a bird’s shape can be deceiving
Want to learn more about birds? Sign up for our newsletter! Experienced birders often stress the importance of shape and proportions for identification, and there … Read More “David Sibley explains why a bird’s shape can be deceiving”
David Sibley’s tips for identifying found feathers
Occasionally we run across loose feathers on the ground — sometimes a single feather, sometimes a bunch together (which usually marks the scene of a … Read More “David Sibley’s tips for identifying found feathers”
David Sibley describes how birds deal with summer heat
With a high body temperature, extremely good insulation, and limited ways to dissipate heat, one of the biggest risks for birds in hot weather is … Read More “David Sibley describes how birds deal with summer heat”
David Sibley: How feather color can reveal a songbird’s age
Determining the age of songbirds in the field generally requires close views, careful study, and some experience. But in a few species in spring, the … Read More “David Sibley: How feather color can reveal a songbird’s age”
David Sibley on bird ID: How shape changes with the seasons
The overall shapes and proportions of birds provide important clues to their identity. In fact, as birders gain experience, they rely on shape more and … Read More “David Sibley on bird ID: How shape changes with the seasons”
David Sibley: How to tell Purple Finch from House Finch
As the winter feeding season approaches, a perennial identification challenge looms: Purple Finch versus House Finch. The two species are close relatives. Both are sparrow-sized … Read More “David Sibley: How to tell Purple Finch from House Finch”
David Sibley: How to make peace with changes to your checklist
Many birders are understandably frustrated by changes in birds’ names, and in the sequence of species on checklists. It can be hard to keep up, … Read More “David Sibley: How to make peace with changes to your checklist”
How to use your binoculars to find more birds
The essential first step in birding is simply finding birds to watch. Moving to the next step — identification — is possible only after a … Read More “How to use your binoculars to find more birds”
How details of bird song reveal details of birds’ social lives
A key to appreciating bird song is learning to decipher a little bit of its meaning. Most of the information it contains is beyond our understanding, but … Read More “How details of bird song reveal details of birds’ social lives”
David Sibley: How reflected light gives birds their most vivid plumage
The brilliant yellow, orange, and red that you seen on many birds are not just for decoration; the colors send an important message about the … Read More “David Sibley: How reflected light gives birds their most vivid plumage”
Sketches by David Sibley reveal similarity and variation in bill shape
When we talk about identification, we tend to focus on differences, but it can be instructive (and reassuring) to think about similarities. In fact, understanding … Read More “Sketches by David Sibley reveal similarity and variation in bill shape”
David Sibley: You can recognize groups of birds by the way they move
Experienced birders can often identify a bird after seeing only a flash of movement. The way a bird moves from perch to perch, how it … Read More “David Sibley: You can recognize groups of birds by the way they move”
David Sibley: How birds can change color without molting
Most of the dramatic seasonal changes in a bird’s appearance are the result of molt — that is, the replacement of old feathers with new. … Read More “David Sibley: How birds can change color without molting”
David Sibley: What the changing colors of a songbird’s bill mean
Late summer is a time of transition for birds and a time of tremendous variety for birders. You can see adult birds in breeding plumage … Read More “David Sibley: What the changing colors of a songbird’s bill mean”
Wing basics by David Sibley
The wing is one of the most remarkable parts of a bird. When extended in flight, it serves as a lightweight and efficient airfoil. But … Read More “Wing basics by David Sibley”
David Sibley gives simple tricks for locating a bird you can hear but can’t see
Spring is the season for birdsong, but seeing the singer can sometimes be a challenge. Here are simple tricks that will help you locate a … Read More “David Sibley gives simple tricks for locating a bird you can hear but can’t see”
David Sibley tells how to identify streaky sparrows by their back pattern
When we talk about identifying sparrows and other streaky brownish birds, one of the things we focus on is whether the breast is streaked or … Read More “David Sibley tells how to identify streaky sparrows by their back pattern”
David Sibley: How markings on feathers make spots and streaks on birds
Birds’ incredible range of color patterns can be useful for identification, but the diversity can also be overwhelming. The key to deciphering color patterns is … Read More “David Sibley: How markings on feathers make spots and streaks on birds”
David Sibley explains how studying one detail will help you remember the whole bird
If you’ve ever read about how to improve your identification skills, you have undoubtedly run across these suggestions: Continue watching after you’ve identified the bird. … Read More “David Sibley explains how studying one detail will help you remember the whole bird”
David Sibley explains how a bird can change its appearance by rearranging its feathers
Feather color accounts for most of the variation that we see in the appearance of birds, since color fluctuates with age, sex, and other factors, … Read More “David Sibley explains how a bird can change its appearance by rearranging its feathers”
David Sibley explains how to use nesting behavior to help identify birds
In most of North America, nesting behavior is common any time between April and July. You may not think of it as a field mark, … Read More “David Sibley explains how to use nesting behavior to help identify birds”
David Sibley explains how birds that really want to be noticed use visual signals as well as song
Identifying birds is really about understanding birds. Being attuned to the basics of bird behavior can help us put a name on species. Spring is … Read More “David Sibley explains how birds that really want to be noticed use visual signals as well as song”
David Sibley explains what to look for the next time you see a partial albino bird
Sooner or later everyone who watches birds will come across a real oddball. Some of the more frequently seen abnormal birds are the partial albinos. … Read More “David Sibley explains what to look for the next time you see a partial albino bird”
David Allen Sibley describes why birds hit windows and what we can do to prevent window strikes
The author of The Sibley Guide to Birds tells how he keeps birds from hitting windows at his home
St. Marks Soras
The author of The Sibley Guide to Birds describes the Sora capital of the world