The author of the popular Sibley Guide to Birds and other books explains bird behaviors and field marks, birding techniques, and more.
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”
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”
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”
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”
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”
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”
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”
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”
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”
