Backyard birding

Look out the window, know your birds.

Practical backyard birding guides: common birds by region, bird identification by color, feeders, bird food, hummingbirds, birdhouses and attracting birds.

Start here Browse every guide

72 in-depth guides

14 topics

Oct 2026 latest guide

Featured guides

Guides to start with

Each one links on to more specific articles in its topic.

Start here · Essential guide

Common Backyard Birds: The Species You Will See at Your Feeder

Meet the common backyard birds of North America, with quick ID cues, feeding habits, and tips on what brings each group of birds to your yard.

Common Backyard Birds 4 min read

Birds Found in New York: A Statewide Field Guide

A field guide to birds found in New York: common feeder birds, winter residents, sparrows, notable species, NYC birding spots, and free ID tools.

Birds of the Northeast 4 min read

Birds of North Carolina: Common and Rare Species

A practical guide to the birds of North Carolina, from backyard cardinals and Carolina wrens to coastal specialties, mountain species, and harder-to-find rarities.

Birds of the South Midwest & Mountains 5 min read

Arizona Birds Identification Guide

Identify common Arizona birds by habitat and field marks, from Cactus Wrens and Gila Woodpeckers to desert hummingbirds, with tips for naming an unknown yard bird.

Regional Bird Identification 4 min read

List of Birds That Are Blue, With Photos

A field-friendly list of North American birds that are blue, from the three bluebirds to jays, buntings and swallows, with tips to tell lookalikes apart.

Blue Birds 4 min read

Browse

Explore by topic

See every guide →

Common & Regional Birds

Common backyard birds and birds by region.

Common Backyard Birds 7 guides, starting with Common Backyard Birds: The Species You Will See at Your Feeder. 7 guides Birds of the Northeast 4 guides, starting with Birds Found in New York: A Statewide Field Guide. 4 guides Birds of the South Midwest & Mountains 5 guides, starting with Birds of North Carolina: Common and Rare Species. 5 guides Regional Bird Identification 7 guides, starting with Arizona Birds Identification Guide. 7 guides

Bird Identification

Identify birds by color, blue birds and species guides.

Blue Birds 4 guides, starting with List of Birds That Are Blue, With Photos. 4 guides Bird Identification By Color 6 guides, starting with Birds With a Red Head: How to Tell Them Apart. 6 guides Bird Species Guides 5 guides, starting with Midwest Sparrows: A Field Identification Guide. 5 guides

Birding Basics & Behavior

Birding basics, winter birds and bird behavior.

Birding Basics 3 guides, starting with What Does Lifer Mean in Birding? Birder Slang Explained. 3 guides Winter Birds & Bird Behavior 5 guides, starting with Winter Birds: Who Stays and Who Migrates. 5 guides

Feeding & Attracting Birds

Attracting birds, feeders, bird food, hummingbirds and birdhouses.

Attracting Birds 3 guides, starting with How to Attract Birds to Your Yard. 3 guides Bird Feeders 6 guides, starting with What Is a Hopper Bird Feeder? How It Works and Who Uses It. 6 guides What to Feed Birds 7 guides, starting with Seed-Eating Birds and What Seeds They Prefer. 7 guides Hummingbirds 6 guides, starting with Hummingbird Feeder Types Compared. 6 guides Birdhouses 4 guides, starting with Bird House Hole Size by Species: A Practical Sizing Guide. 4 guides