Identifying Birds
9 guides
Crows, Jays, and Magpies: Identifying Corvids in Your Backyard
Learn to identify American Crow, Common Raven, Blue Jay, Steller's Jay, and Black-billed Magpie by size, tail, bill, and voice, with range notes for each.
June 22, 2026
Confusing Lookalike Birds and How to Tell Them Apart
Four classic lookalike bird pairs that trip up backyard birders, plus the exact field marks you need to sort them out for good.
June 19, 2026
How to Tell Backyard Hawks and Birds of Prey Apart
Learn to identify the most common backyard hawks: Cooper's, Sharp-shinned, Red-tailed, and American Kestrel, with field marks beginners can use.
June 7, 2026
Woodpeckers at Your Feeder: A Field Guide
Learn to identify the backyard woodpeckers most likely to visit your yard, from tiny Downies to bold Red-bellieds, with tips on food and feeders that bring
May 22, 2026
Identifying Backyard Finches: Goldfinch, House, and Purple
Learn to tell apart the three most common backyard finches (American Goldfinch, House Finch, and Purple Finch) by plumage, size, bill shape, and song.
May 8, 2026
Male vs Female Birds: How Plumage Differs
Learn how to tell male and female birds apart using plumage, color, and pattern clues. A practical backyard birder's guide to bird sexual dimorphism.
May 7, 2026
How to Tell Common Sparrows Apart
Sparrow identification made practical: learn the field marks that distinguish House, Song, White-throated, Chipping, and other common backyard sparrows.
April 24, 2026
How to Identify Birds by Their Songs and Calls
Learn to identify birds by sound with this practical guide to bird songs, calls, and birding by ear techniques for backyard birders.
April 18, 2026
How to Identify Common Backyard Birds
Learn to identify the most common backyard birds by size, color, beak shape, and behavior. A practical bird identification guide for beginners.
April 10, 2026