If you are a birder, or are thinking about getting into birding, the following may help you get the most out of what has become one of the most popular outdoor recreational activities in the US.
Field guides
To get started with birding, all you really need is curiosity. After that, though, a good field guide is handy to have. Most people need (or at least carry) just one. Which one is "best" is largely a matter of personal preference. These three are some of the best known, but there are plenty of others.
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National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America
by Jon L. Dunn Presents a guidebook which provides identification tips, information on behavior and nesting, locator and range maps, and plumage and species classification data on over one thousand species of birds found in North America. |
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Sibley Birds East : Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America
by David Sibley A new edition of the eastern North American guide for bird enthusiasts profiles 550 species, and features new illustrations and maps, in a guide specifically designed for use in the field. |
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Peterson Field Guide to Birds of Eastern and Central North America
by Roger Tory Peterson A latest edition of the best-selling field guide incorporates Peterson’s signature illustrated identification system and is updated to include new range maps and species profiles based on the most current ornithology findings. |
Beyond identification: books about birding and bird appreciation
Knowing the names of birds we encounter is great, but learning more about birding techniques, bird behavior, and the role that birds play in the environment we share with them can take the enjoyment we get out of birding to the next level.
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What It's Like to Be a Bird: From Flying to Nesting, Eating to Singing -- What Birds Are Doing, and Why
by David Sibley A preeminent bird guide and bird behavior expert answers the most frequently asked questions about the birds we see most often, in this large-format volume that is perfect for nonbirders and birders alike and covers more than 200 species. Also available as an ebook on OverDrive. |
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Pete Dunne on Bird Watching: Beginner's Guide to Finding, Identifying and Enjoying Birds
by Pete Dunne Birding is one of today's most popular and fastest-growing outdoor activities, but can be intimidating for beginners who don't know where, when, or how to search for birds. Pete Dunne, one of the most respected writers in the field, has updated his classic guide to help anyone develop their interest in birding. Tips on skills and tools needed, along with dozens of color photos, will help birders at every level improve their odds of success. Also available as an ebook on OverDrive. |
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How to Know the Birds: The Art & Adventure of Birding
by Ted Floyd A unique blend of narrative and field studies introduces a new, holistic approach to bird-watching, by noting how behaviors, settings and seasonal cycles connect with shape, song, color, gender age distinctions and other characteristics traditionally used to identify species. Also available as an ebook on OverDrive and on Hoopla. |
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Birder on Berry Lane: Three Acres, Twelve Months, Thousands of Birds
by Robert Tougias A writer, birder and naturalist presents a month-by-month guide to the birds that flock to his New England backyard, revealing the miracles of the ordinary in the subtle changes, season to season and the ecosystem of the land surrounding him. Also available as an ebook on OverDrive. |
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Good Birders Don't Wear White: 50 Tips From North America's Top Birders
by Lisa White In a compilation of original essays, some of world's leading bird experts, including David Sibley, Kenn Kaufman, Don and Lillian Stokes, Tim Gallagher, and others, dispense practical advice on every aspect of birding, from tips on feeding birds and cleaning binoculars to entertaining tales of the traditions and taboos of birding culture. Also available as an ebook on Hoopla. A sequel, Good Birders Still Don't Wear White, is also available as an ebook on Hoopla. |
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The Genius of Birds
by Jennifer Ackerman An award-winning, science, nature and human biology writer explores recent research indicating that birds are much more intelligent than previously thought and are capable of deceiving and manipulating, eavesdropping, gift-giving, playing, sharing and much more. Also available as an ebook on OverDrive and as an audiobook on either OverDrive or Hoopla. |
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Of a Feather: A Brief History of American Birding
by Scott Weidensaul A colorful history of American ornithology details the origins and development of birding in North America, from the colonial era to the rise of modern birding under the auspices of educator-naturalist Roger Tory Peterson, who first published A Field Guide to the Birds in 1934. Also available as an ebook on either OverDrive or Hoopla. |
Just for laughs
Okay, so these books probably won't improve your birding skills or enrich your birding experience, but they are funny. (Warning: the language in the last two is pretty rough—and funny.)
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Another Field Guide to Little-known & Seldom-seen Birds of North America
by Ben L. Sill Offers tongue-in-cheek descriptions of imaginary birds in a parody of field guides. |
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The Field Guide to Dumb Birds of North America
by Matt Kracht "Perfect for the anti-aviary (or bird fanatic with a sense of humor), this snarky illustrated handbook is equal parts profane, funny, and--let's face it--true. Each entry is accompanied by facts about a bird's (annoying) call, its (dumb) migratory pattern, its (downright tacky) markings, and more. With migratory maps and tips for birding, plus musings on the avian population and the ethics of birdwatching, this is the essential guide to all things wings. "--Amazon.com Also available as an ebook on Hoopla. |
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Effin' Birds : A Field Guide to Identification
by Aaron Reynolds "A compact, comprehensive, and very silly field guide featuring more than 200 of the rudest birds on earth." - Amazon.com |
Periodicals
Some excellent information about birds and birding appear as articles in magazines and journals. Here are three of the best:
- Bird Observer: The New England Birding Journal
A fantastic bimonthly publication going back to 1973, written by and for bird watchers in New England. (MHL begins a subscription to this in 2021!) Archives can be found here and here. - Birding
Award-winning bimonthly magazine published by the American Birding Association. - Living Bird
Quarterly publication from the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology. Features some of the best photographs and artwork in any birding publication. Archives can be found here.
Organizations
These groups are great for learning about new places to go birding, going on bird walks, asking and answering questions, and sharing observations and experiences.
Websites
As you might expect, there are hundreds of useful, interesting sites out there. Here are three really good sites to know about, plus a fourth that's satirical in nature (or is it?).
- All About Birds
Free, full-featured online guide to birds and bird watching from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. - Birds of the World
Comprehensive life histories for all bird species and families from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Includes species accounts, maps, multimedia, and bird family overviews. The full database requires either a subscription or an MHL library card. - eBird
A great tool for keeping track of your bird lists and exploring the latest sightings from a given area. Sharing your checklists with eBird is a great way to do citizen science and contribute to conservation. - Birds Aren't Real
A rather startling perspective on birds that "live" among us.
Just for fun
If you enjoy birds and word games, you may enjoy Birdle, a bird-themed Wordle clone.
More resources
This collection just scratches the surface. If you are interested in learning more (e.g., about bird conservation, specific families or species of birds, apps, movies about birding, reviews of optics and other equipment used by birders, etc.), get in touch—we'd be happy to hear from you!