Looking for something to help you with bird identification or nest watching? Look no further!
Find links to many useful resources for bird identification, mobile apps, observing nests, conservation, and more. If you have a suggestion to add to this list, please contact us.
Quick links
Nest Watching Tips
Websites for Bird Identification
Field Guides
Get Started with eBird
Mobile Apps
Study Bird Sounds
Photo & Song Quizzes
Conservation & Science
Meet Fellow Birders
Around the Home
Other Bird Volunteer Programs
Nest Watching Tips
- Code of Conduct for Monitoring Nests
- How to Find Nests
- Identifying Nests and Eggs
- Myths About Nesting Birds
- What to Do with Young Birds Found Outside the Nest
- Photos of Nests
- Know When Birds Think You Are Too Close
Websites for Bird Identification
- All About Birds
- Birds of the World (paid)
- NY Natural Heritage Guides
- NYS DEC Fact Sheets
- The 4 Keys to Bird Identification
- Cornell Lab’s Bird Academy
- Audubon Binocular Guide
- Bent’s Life Histories of North American Birds
- Baby Bird Identification
Field Guides
- Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America, 2nd Edition
- Sibley’s Birding Basics: How to Identify Birds, Using the Clues in Feathers, Habitats, Behaviors, and Sounds
- The Crossley ID Guide: Eastern Birds
- Peterson Field Guide to Birds of Eastern and Central North America, 6th Edition
- Kaufman Field Guide to Birds of North America
- National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, 7th Edition
- National Geographic Birding Essentials: All the Tools, Techniques, and Tips You Need to Begin and Become a Better Birder
- Peterson’s Field Guide to North American Bird Nests by Casey McFarland, Matthew Monjello, and David Moskowitz
- Eastern Birds’ Nests (Peterson Field Guides series) by Hal H. Harrison
- Nests, Eggs, and Nestlings of North American Birds by Paul Baicich and Colin Harrison
- Stokes Nature Guides to Bird Behavior, volumes 1-3, by Donald and Lillian Stokes
- Birds of New York State by Robert Budliger and Gregory Kennedy
- The Warbler Guide by Tom Stephenson and Scott Whittle
- Gulls Simplified: A Comparative Approach to Identification by Pete Dunne and Kevin Karlson
- Birds of Prey: Hawks, Eagles, Falcons and Vultures of North America by Pete Dunne and Kevin Karlson
- Birds of Prey of the East: A Field Guide by Brian Wheeler
Get Started with eBird
- Introduction
- eBird essentials (free online course from Bird Academy to get started using eBird)
- Using eBird Mobile Handout (step-by-step instructions from the Atlas)
- Enter sightings on eBird Mobile (instructions from eBird)
- Enter sightings on eBird Website (instructions fro eBird)
Mobile Apps
Enter data and find places to birdwatch
- eBird (free)
Bird identification
- Merlin (free; photo and audio recognition; sound files)
- Audubon Bird Guide (free; with breeding information)
- Raptor ID (paid)
- Warbler Guide (paid)
- Most of the major field guides also come in app form (paid; see the list of field guides above)
Learn bird sounds
- LarkWire (paid)
- SongSleuth (paid)
Miscellaneous
- ReGrid (free nationwide property app)
- Hear Birds Again (to hear high-pitched birds; iOS only)
Study Bird Sounds
Photo & Song Quizzes
Conservation & Science
- New York Important Bird Areas
- New York Bird Conservation Areas
- List of Endangered, Threatened, and Special Concern Species in New York
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology archived talks
- New York State Birding Trail
Meet Fellow Birders
- NYS Young Birders Club
- Resources for Young Birders
- Birding Listservs
- Join a Bird Club
- New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Birding Events
Around the Home
- Bird Feeder Care & Cleaning
- Bird-friendly Backyards
- Providing Safe Nesting Materials
- Sustainable Landscaping (DEC)
- Garden for Wildlife
- Habitat Network
- Audubon’s Native Plants Database
- Xerces Society’s Native Seed Mixes
- Create Wildlife Habitat in Your Backyard
- Cats Indoors Campaign
- Fatal Light Awareness Program
- Stop Birds Hitting Windows (ABC)
- Prevent Bird Collisions (FLAP Canada)
- Bird-friendly Coffee
- Bird-friendly Beef