Birding in the USA and Abroad

Millions of people all over the world are drawn to the hobby of watching birds. Unlike ornithologists who are dedicated to the scientific study of birds, most bird watchers are recreational. The most basic equipment for spotting and appreciating birds is a good pair of binoculars, a notepad, and an identification guidebook. With over 10,000 known species of birds in the world, it’s easy to begin bird watching in your own backyard.
Here are some places to get you started.

Research

British Trust for Ornithology: Research results based on monitoring efforts by the British Trust for Ornithology.
Wildlife Preserves
The George Miksch Sutton Avian Research Center: Dedicated to research, education, and conservation of North American Birds.
Bird Studies Canada: Downloadable research based on monitoring efforts.
Patuxent Wildlife Research Center: Research results from a joint bird banding effort between the US and Canada.
Raptor Research Foundation: A non-profit organization that encourages the research and conservation of raptors like hawks, eagles, falcons, and owls.

Bird ID Guides - pages that help with bird identification

All About Birds: The Cornell Lab’s Ornithology site helps identify birds.
Find Birds: Find birds by their location.
Audubon: A guide in how to identify birds.
Nest Watch: Identifying bird eggs.
Xeno-Canto: A searchable database of birdsongs from all over the world to help identify a bird by its song.
A Guide to North American Bird Songs: Keys to help identify the sounds of North American birds.
eNature: An online bird guide with pictures and sounds.

Birding Basics - pages with info to help someone start birding

Wild Birds: Ten tips to get new birders started.
Birdwatching 101: Choosing tools and watching birds.
Birding Pal: A global website of serious birding enthusiasts willing to share their knowledge and act as bird watching guides for their areas.
An Introduction to Birding: Some basic information on the hobby of bird watching.

Bird Publications and Journals

Birdwatchers Digest: Six issues a year bring you the latest in birding news.
World Birdwatch Magazine: Articles on international birding issues written by experts in the field.
Birder's World: A magazine that provides tips on watching North American birds.
The Auk: The quarterly journal of The American Ornithologists’ Union.
Australian Field Ornithology: A journal of scientific papers published by Bird Observation & Conservation Australia.
Bird Observer: The New England Birding Journal is bi-monthly.
The Emu: Ornithological research and reviews from the Southern Hemisphere.
British Birds: A monthly journal on various topics related to birds and birding.

Ornithology Groups and Societies

The American Ornithologists' Union: The oldest birding organization in North America dedicated to the scientific study of birds.
Association of Field Ornithologists: An international organization that studies and disseminates information about birds and their habitats.
Cooper Ornithological Society: A non-profit organization dedicated to the study of birds and the conservation of birds and all wildlife.
The Waterbird Society: An international organization that studies the world’s waterbirds and promotes their conservation.
International Crane Foundation: A world-wide organization dedicated to the conservation of cranes and their wetland habitats.
The Avicultural Society: This British non-profit group was founded in 1894.

Bird Watching in the US - places where bird watching is ideal in the US

Aleutian Islands, Alaska: In May and June this is one of the best areas to see migrating Asian birds.
Cape May, New Jersey: In a addition to a large number of hawks, millions of migrating shore birds come to feed on horseshoe crabs.
The Everglades, Florida: Follow the Anhinga Trail, Mrazek Pond and Snake Bight Trail as part of the Everglades birding loop.
Great Florida Birding Trail
Texas to Florida, The Gulf Coast: A hot spot for North America’s migrating songbirds.
Monterey Bay, California: Long recognized as one of the world’s best birding spots, the Birding Festival is held in the Fall.
Newburyport, Massachusetts: The home to frequent sightings of rare birds.
Pawnee National Grasslands, Colorado: Home to a variety of prairie and mountain birds.
The Rio Grande Valley, Texas: A gathering point for many birds migrating up the coast.
Southeast Arizona: Bird spots like Ramsey Canyon are a must for serious birdwatchers.
Hakalau National Wildlife Refuge, Hawaii: Many of Hawaii’s colorful birds can be seen in this protected forest.

Bird Watching Abroad

Point Pelee National Park, Canada: One of the best birdwatching areas in North America, over 370 species of birds have been spotted here.
Asa Wright Centre, Trinidad & Tobago: This converted plantation in secondary forest is one of the premiere birdwatching areas in the world.
Upper Okavango River, Botswana: In addition to the Okavango River area, Botwana has many other spots that make it a birder’s paradise.
Kakadu National Park, Australia: Over 280 species of birds live in the different habitats of Kakadu.
Tiri Tiri Matangi, New Zealand: The abundant bird life on this island was once damaged by deforesting and agricultural clearing, but they are swiftly making a recovery.
India and South Asia: Over 1250 species of birds inhabit this region, making India’s 13 bio-geographic zones a paradise for bird lovers.
Danum Valley Conservation Area, Malaysia: One of the largest protected forests in Southeast Asia boasts many different bird species.
Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve: The Danube Delta is famous as one of the greatest wetlands on earth. It provides many bird sighting opportunities.
Amazon Rainforest, Brazil, Ecuador, Peru: Salt licks and rainforest canopies are ideal for viewing an abundant number of rainforest birds.
Costa Rica: Over 812 recorded species of birds and easy access to birding sites make Costa Rica a bird watching must-see.