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: 鈥淩ead鈥 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
American Bittern
Botaurus lentiginosus
Herons, Egrets, Bitterns
Priority Bird
Varied Thrush
Ixoreus naevius
Thrushes
Red-tailed Hawk
Buteo jamaicensis
Hawks and Eagles
Pied-billed Grebe
Podilymbus podiceps
Grebes

More Birding Advice

A Red-tailed Hawk silhouette flies high in the sky above a foreground of bare tree branches. The sun glows through the birds' feathers, illuminating its reddish tail.
Look Up! An Introduction to Identifying Raptors in Flight
October 05, 2021 — When hawks and falcons stream across the sky in large numbers, you need a distinct set of birding skills to tell them apart.
News
Ask Kenn: Do Migrating Birds Take the Same Routes in Spring and Fall?
September 30, 2021 — In this month's column, bird expert Kenn Kaufman explains the phenomenon of "loop migration."
Ask Kenn!
Why the Kirtland鈥檚 Warbler Should be Michigan鈥檚 State Bird
August 26, 2021 — And while we鈥檙e at it, we should change its name to Jack Pine Warbler.
Bird News
How Birders Are Boosting Their Yard Lists While They Sleep
June 08, 2021 — Using DIY setups and free software, a growing number of community scientists are eavesdropping on nocturnal migrants flying above.
Birding
Yellow Warbler. Raymond Hennessy/Alamy
Two Fantastic Warblers Anyone Can Find
May 14, 2021 — Ready to up your warbler game but not sure where to begin? Seek out water to get started with this popular pair.
Birding Advice