A new edition of the Costa Rica guide you can carry in the field
A review of The Birds of Costa Rica: A Field Guide, Second Edition, by Richard Garrigues and Robert Dean Read More “A new edition of the Costa Rica guide you can carry in the field”
Bird Identification
Advice from authors Kenn Kaufman and David Sibley on how to identify birds. Plus, articles about bird field guides and smartphone apps.
New Kaufman guide essential for nature lovers
A review of Kaufman Field Guide to Nature of the Midwest, by Kenn Kaufman, Jeff Sayre, and Kimberly Kaufman Read More “New Kaufman guide essential for nature lovers”
David Sibley gives simple tricks for locating a bird you can hear but can’t see
Spring is the season for birdsong, but seeing the singer can sometimes be a challenge. Here are simple tricks that will help you locate a … Read More “David Sibley gives simple tricks for locating a bird you can hear but can’t see”
David Sibley tells how to identify streaky sparrows by their back pattern
When we talk about identifying sparrows and other streaky brownish birds, one of the things we focus on is whether the breast is streaked or … Read More “David Sibley tells how to identify streaky sparrows by their back pattern”
David Sibley: How markings on feathers make spots and streaks on birds
Birds’ incredible range of color patterns can be useful for identification, but the diversity can also be overwhelming. The key to deciphering color patterns is … Read More “David Sibley: How markings on feathers make spots and streaks on birds”
David Sibley explains how studying one detail will help you remember the whole bird
If you’ve ever read about how to improve your identification skills, you have undoubtedly run across these suggestions: Continue watching after you’ve identified the bird. … Read More “David Sibley explains how studying one detail will help you remember the whole bird”
David Sibley explains how a bird can change its appearance by rearranging its feathers
Feather color accounts for most of the variation that we see in the appearance of birds, since color fluctuates with age, sex, and other factors, … Read More “David Sibley explains how a bird can change its appearance by rearranging its feathers”
David Sibley explains how to use nesting behavior to help identify birds
In most of North America, nesting behavior is common any time between April and July. You may not think of it as a field mark, … Read More “David Sibley explains how to use nesting behavior to help identify birds”
David Sibley explains how birds that really want to be noticed use visual signals as well as song
Identifying birds is really about understanding birds. Being attuned to the basics of bird behavior can help us put a name on species. Spring is … Read More “David Sibley explains how birds that really want to be noticed use visual signals as well as song”
David Sibley explains what to look for the next time you see a partial albino bird
Sooner or later everyone who watches birds will come across a real oddball. Some of the more frequently seen abnormal birds are the partial albinos. … Read More “David Sibley explains what to look for the next time you see a partial albino bird”