David Sibley explains eye-rings
Learn how the shape and pattern of feathers around the eyes can help you identify birds. Read More “David Sibley explains eye-rings”
Bird Identification
Advice from authors Kenn Kaufman and David Sibley on how to identify birds. Plus, articles about bird field guides and smartphone apps.
David Sibley explains how to point out a bird’s location
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”
David Sibley explains why a bird’s shape can be deceiving
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”
Identifying Blue-winged Teal, Green-winged Teal, and Cinnamon Teal
Kenn Kaufman explains how to differentiate female Blue-winged Teal from two other dabbling ducks: Cinnamon and Green-winged Teal. Read More “Identifying Blue-winged Teal, Green-winged Teal, and Cinnamon Teal”
Identifying Black-capped Chickadee, Carolina Chickadee
Kenn Kaufman explains how to tell Black-capped Chickadee apart from Carolina Chickadee, and he offers tips for identifying Mexican and Mountain Chickadees Read More “Identifying Black-capped Chickadee, Carolina Chickadee”
Interview: Co-authors describe new seventh edition of National Geographic bird guide
What’s not to love about a fully updated, thicker Nat Geo guide? The new seventh edition of the National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds … Read More “Interview: Co-authors describe new seventh edition of National Geographic bird guide”
Download our guide to fall warbler ID
In fall, many warblers wear plumages that are drab, not their colorful breeding plumages, and consequently, they have been tagged as difficult to identify. They have become so … Read More “Download our guide to fall warbler ID”
David Sibley’s tips for identifying found feathers
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”