Advice from authors Kenn Kaufman and David Sibley on how to identify birds. Plus, articles about bird field guides and smartphone apps.
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 folks at the Cornell Lab who brought us the excellent Merlin bird-ID app for smartphones have just released a new tool for identifying birds, … Read More “New Cornell Lab tool identifies birds in photos”
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”
A review of the Field Guide to the Neighborhood Birds of New York City, by Leslie Day Read More “A field guide to five boroughs of feathered New Yorkers”
A review of The Birds of Costa Rica: A Field Guide, Second Edition, by Richard Garrigues and Robert Dean Read More “A new edition of the Costa Rica guide you can carry in the field”
A review of Kaufman Field Guide to Nature of the Midwest, by Kenn Kaufman, Jeff Sayre, and Kimberly Kaufman Read More “New Kaufman guide essential for nature lovers”
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”
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