Birding by Ear

There's a lot to look forward to in spring for birders.

The flowers are blooming, old friends are returning,  and birdsong is at its peak. The sheer volume of songs and calls can often feel overwhelming for birders, but these sounds offer an opportunity and a challenge. With our birding-by-ear series you can learn how to better ID birds through their vocalizations. 

Pt. 1: Start Listening for Songs and Calls
Pt. 2: Learn the Most Common Kinds of Sounds
Pt. 3: Connect Noises With Pictures That Stick
Pt. 4: Grow Familiar With Neighborhood Voices
Pt. 5: “Read” Sounds on Spectrograms
Pt. 6: Know If It's a Mimic or the Real Deal
Pt. 7: Learn Different Regional Accents
Pt. 8: Eavesdrop on Nature's Orchestra
A Few of Our Favorite Sounds
Adopt a Bird
American Bittern
Herons, Egrets, Bitterns
! Priority Bird
Varied Thrush
Thrushes
Red-tailed Hawk
Hawks and Eagles
Pied-billed Grebe
Grebes

More Birding Advice

Challenge Yourself With This Bird Call Quiz
August 14, 2015 — How well do you know these sounds of summer?
Quiz
Two handw holding two phones, the two people have binoculars
The Best Apps for Birding and Field Identification
August 04, 2015 — Birding apps give you access to thousands of species while also helping to actively identify them.
Gear Advice
Use Tableau To Visualize Your Birding
July 10, 2015 — Already using eBird? A little extra work in Tableau will give insight into how you bird—our conservation data specialist explains.
Birding
A Songbird for Mountaineers
June 29, 2015 — To find the elusive Bicknell's Thrush, be patient—and start climbing.
News
48 Hours of Birding (and Other Things): Oklahoma City
June 29, 2015 — Get a kick out of Scissor-tailed Flycatchers and Painted Buntings along Route 66.
48 Hours of Birding