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What bird is that? How you can easily identify a bird you see in the wild: Video

Cody Godwin   Paste BN
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One of the simplest ways to slow down is to stop, smell the roses and listen to the birds. However, it seems people are starting to do more than just listen to them. The hobby of bird watching might be more popular than you think. A December 2024 article from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service revealed that 96 million Americans turned their eyes to the skies in 2022 to seek out our feathered friends. 

Plus, the hobby is highly accessible and something people of all ages can enjoy. It can be as simple as looking outside and admiring the birds in your area or as adventurous as traveling halfway around the world to spot a rare or exotic species. 

Watch this video to see how you can easily identify a bird with just a song.

Birding

Birding has few requirements for those looking to get involved. You only need keen eyes, binoculars, a bird guide and “a positive attitude,” according to the National Park Service (NPS).

If you’re interested in taking part, here are some tips from the NPS on how to get started:

  • Familiarize yourself with the birds that are native to your area. 
  • Find a good spot. The NPS recommends a place where “two habitats meet,” for instance, a shoreline or the edge of a forest.
  • Be mindful of the time of year and time of day. Many birds are more active at dusk and dawn because their songs carry further when the air is cooler. 
  • Blend in. Fitting in with your surroundings and staying still will prevent birds from fleeing at the sight of you.
  • Be patient. 

Setting up a bird feeder in your yard is a fun and easy way to enjoy your local avian friends. However, if you’re planning to check out the birds at a national park, remember that it’s illegal to feed any wildlife in a national park. 

Bird sound identifier

Looking at and listening to birds is very enjoyable and for some, that’s enough. Others may want to take it up a notch and learn how to identify them. 

There are many books to help you, but consider downloading an app if you’re looking for a faster way to ID them.

Merlin Bird ID is a free app that helps determine which bird you saw or heard. The app, designed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, was designed to answer the commonly asked question: "What bird is that?" In some ways, the app is like the song-identifying app Shazam, except for bird songs. It listens to the chirping and singing, analyzes it and tells you which birds it hears. You can play the audio back and see the app highlight which bird is chirping at which time. The app is also able to identify birds visually by taking or uploading a picture or answering a few questions to help narrow down what you might have seen. 

Merlin Bird ID isn’t the only bird-recognition app, but it is the most popular by far, with over 103k ratings and an average of 4.9 stars on the Apple App Store.

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Bird watching groups

Birding is an activity that can be done solo or with a group. If you’re looking to join a birding community, there are a few places to easily find one in your area. 

You can also find more specific bird-watching communities, like bird photography, rare birds, queer birders and Black birders.

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