Watching Backyard Birds.com: Home

"Deep summer is when laziness finds respectability." - Sam Keen

Find a mystery bird in your yard? Consult Bird Watcher's Digest's online identification guide!Bird Identification Guide » Bird Watcher's Digest What bird is that? Consult our bird identification guide to ID mystery birds in the backyard and beyond. We have photos, song recordings, in-depth entries, and more to help bird watchers correctly identify the birds they spot.

Cuckoo, cuckoo! It's time for a quiz! bit.ly/2AvTSuNCuckoo About Cuckoos? Take Our Quiz! » Bird Watcher's Digest Bird Watcher's Digest September/October 2015 issue. Highlights: Northern Harrier; ID Yourself: Cooper's and Sharp-shinned Hawks; The Saginaw Bay Birding Trail; and much more!

Some people say that chipping sparrows sound like crickets! Read more about these tiny backyard birds: bit.ly/2v4JXqT(Photo by Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren)

Which feeder best suits the birds you want to attract? This guide will give you some insight: bit.ly/2OucKNX

Several studies have shown that an individual mockingbird may have as many as 300 or more different songs, and no matter how long you listen, you rarely hear a mockingbird repeat itself for more than a few notes. bit.ly/2vu5AQU(Northern mockingbird photo via Calibas/Wikimedia)

Do you have any favorite birding-focused authors? Tell us about them!

There are a lot of things to consider when picking out a hummingbird feeder, including color, capacity, and maintenance. Get tips on making the right choice: bit.ly/2AtdDDx(Ruby-throated hummingbird photo via Pixabay)

Showy, colorful flowers aren't always the best option for attracting and feeding hummingbirds. Opt for fuchsia, salvia, and lobelia over begonias and petunias. bit.ly/2v5Gh8w(Ruby-throated hummingbird photo by Bill Buchanan/USFWS)

"Knowing trees, I understand the meaning of patience. Knowing grass, I can appreciate persistence." - Hal Borland

All birds need water for drinking, and most birds also need it for bathing. Providing water for birds can attract species that aren’t interested in seeds, suet, nectar, or even mealworms. Need some advice for offering water to birds? Get it in our free e-book: bit.ly/2LpndMKProviding Water for Birds » Bird Watcher's Digest All birds need water for drinking, and most birds also need it for bathing. Providing water for birds can attract species that aren’t interested in seeds, suet, nectar, or even mealworms. Adding water features to your yard can be relatively easy and inexpensive, but there are some important things...

Unless they're in nest boxes protected by predator baffles, leave the nests in your yard alone until autumn! Your scent could lead predators to vulnerable nestlings. bit.ly/2LPwxsK(Photo by Virginia State Parks Staff/Wikimedia)

Hello, bird watchers! Check out a sampling of Al Batt's short stories in the August issue of WBB, available online here: bit.ly/2LCSjjU

Late summer's a great time to play "Spot the Fledgling." Have you seen any in your yard yet?(American robin fledgling photo via Pixabay)

It's peak American goldfinch time! Goldfinches begin nesting later in summer, when there is the greatest natural abundance of seeds, as well as the soft thistle down that goldfinches use to line their nests. bit.ly/2LufWaw(Photo by Will Sweet)

If you find a hint of a red stripe on the neck of an otherwise female-looking ruby-throated hummingbird, you're most likely looking at a juvenile male of the species.(Photo via jeffreyw/Wikimedia)

Do you dream of bird watching beyond your backyard? Where would you most like to go?(Atlantic puffin via NOAA Photo Library)