David Sibley's ID Toolkit

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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

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A Herring Gull flying in calm wind (upper row) and in high wind (lower row). Art by David Sibley

Patches in birds’ tail feathers can lead you to ID them

By David Sibley
Published January 12, 2021

What to watch for when birds flash their tails. Read More “Patches in birds’ tail feathers can lead you to ID them”

How to find birds in extremely cold weather

By David Sibley
Published November 8, 2020

When temperatures drop, birds require food and shelter.

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Tips for tropical birding

By David Sibley
Published November 8, 2020

Basic binocular skills can help you locate birds within dense foliage.

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Why birds pump their tails

By David Sibley
Published November 8, 2020

The behavior is a signal to predators to move along.

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Read More “Why birds pump their tails”

The value of actively observing birds

By David Sibley
Published October 27, 2020

Why you should take a little extra time to look at birds.

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Why most birds look their best in fall plumage

By David Sibley
Published September 30, 2020

With new and unblemished feathers, David Sibley makes the case for birds looking their finest in fall.

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Northern Flicker’s fascinating color differences explained

By David Sibley
Updated September 16, 2020

David Sibley describes the two common forms of Northern Flicker — Red-shafted and Yellow-Shafted — as well as intergrades and rare abnormally colored birds.

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How birds fly and move in foliage can help you ID them

By David Sibley
Published July 22, 2020

Understanding variations in bird flight and behavior can put you on the path to identifying birds more quickly.

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Follow a bird’s gaze to find overhead raptors

By David Sibley
Published April 29, 2020

Why it pays to read the glances of doves and sparrows.

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