The author of the popular Sibley Guide to Birds and other books explains bird behaviors and field marks, birding techniques, and more.
These illustrations depict the typical movements of four types of shorebirds. Blue lines show the path of the bill tip as the bird forages. Clockwise from top right: yellowlegs, plover, dowitcher, and peep. Art by David Sibley
Focusing on wing coverts can lead to further insights about birds. Read More “What birders should know about wing feathers”
A successful birder will be able to use habitat as a clue to identifying birds — and also quickly set it aside when necessary. Read More “Understanding birds’ habitat can help you identify them”
In winter, identifying waterbirds is often challenging because the birds are too far away to see details. Understanding flocking behavior can help. Read More “To identify distant waterbirds, learn their flocking behavior”
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”
Become a better birder by understanding where feathers go when wings are folded. Read More “How waterfowl hide their wings”
Learn how the shape and pattern of feathers around the eyes can help you identify birds. Read More “David Sibley explains eye-rings”
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”
