The author of the popular Sibley Guide to Birds and other books explains bird behaviors and field marks, birding techniques, and more.
Here are two views of the sixth primary of a Ring-billed Gull. It’s freshly grown in the fall (upper) and very worn in the late summer of the following year (lower). Art by David Sibley
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”
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”
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”
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”
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”
