Advice from authors Kenn Kaufman and David Sibley on how to identify birds. Plus, articles about bird field guides and smartphone apps.
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”
How to distinguish this western woodpecker from Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and Gila Woodpecker. Read More “Identifying Williamson’s Sapsucker”
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”
Kenn Kaufman describes what to look for to identify the variable Orange-crowned Warbler and the similar Tennessee Warbler. Read More “Identifying Orange-crowned Warbler and Tennessee Warbler”
Kenn Kaufman explains how to identify the nomadic Henslow’s Sparrow and its close relatives Grasshopper and Baird’s Sparrows. Read More “Identifying Henslow’s Sparrow, Grasshopper Sparrow, and Baird’s Sparrow”
Become a better birder by understanding where feathers go when wings are folded. Read More “How waterfowl hide their wings”
How to tell these two easily confusable species apart. Read More “Identifying Blue Grosbeak and Indigo Bunting”
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”
