15 guides
Backyard birdwatching guides
Plain-English guides to enjoying and helping backyard birds. We don't sell seed or feeders, and no brand pays us.
Getting started
Watching, binoculars, ID and lists.
- Start birdwatching at home
A window and a little patience.
- Binoculars basics
What 8x42 means.
- How to identify birds
Size, shape, behavior, then color.
- Keep a yard list
Every species you've seen at home.
Feeding birds
Feeders, seed, cleaning and nectar.
- Choose bird feeders
Match the feeder to the birds.
- Which seed to buy
Black oil sunflower is the all-rounder.
- Keep feeders clean
Every two weeks.
- Hummingbird feeders
1 part sugar, 4 parts water.
A bird-friendly yard
Water, plants, windows and cats.
- Water for birds
Often more popular than food.
- Native plants for birds
Food and shelter, all year.
- Prevent window collisions
Make glass visible to birds.
- Cats and backyard birds
Keep cats indoors.
Going further
Counts, ethics and songs.
- Join a bird count
Your sightings help science.
- Birding ethics
The birds come first.
- Learn bird songs
Your ears find birds first.