BirdNoteThe BirdNote Field Guide
Learn to identify every bird you meet
Practical, beautifully illustrated guides to identifying birds by song, photo, feather and field marks — written by the team behind BirdNote.
How to identify birds by sound: a beginner's guide
Birdsong is the fastest way to know what's around you — long before you ever see the bird. Here's how to start identifying birds by ear, and how an app can do the heavy lifting.
Read the guide →
The best bird song identifier apps in 2026
We compare the most popular bird call identifier apps — features, accuracy, price — to help you pick the right one.
Feather identification: a complete guide
Found a feather? Learn how to identify which bird it came from using shape, colour, pattern, and size.
Hawk identification: how to identify hawks
Tell hawks apart by size, shape, flight style and tail pattern — and from falcons, eagles and vultures.
Bird egg identification guide
Identify bird eggs by size, colour, markings and nest — and what to do if you find a nest.
Owl feather identification
Recognise an owl feather by its soft fringed edge and barring — and tell which owl it came from.
Duck identification guide
Tell ducks and ducklings apart by markings, size and behaviour — dabblers vs divers.
How to identify a bird by a photo
What to capture, the field marks that matter, and how photo identification works.
Merlin Bird ID alternatives and companions
Apps like Merlin for identifying birds by sound and photo, compared.
Identify birds by their song, step by step
From learning common garden songs to recording a clean clip — the practical basics of birding by ear.
Put these guides to work
Try sound or photo identification of the bird itself with BirdNote. Free to download; includes 1 free sound scan and 1 free photo scan. Unlimited identifications require Premium.
