Birding opens up your world in countless ways. Everyone--from the most advanced ornithologist to the freshest binocular holder--can benefit from the experiences of a birdwatching community. Below are some resources to inform your quest for feathered creatures.

How to Begin Birding: A great article inviting new birders to understand the joys of birdwatching.

Bird Identification:

Merlin Bird ID from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: our favorite app for identifying birds. Answer 5 simple questions about the bird you've found, and Merlin will provide a list of possible matches based on the most common birds in North America. Excellent photos and sounds accompany detailed descriptions of each species. Free, and perfect for beginner to intermediate birders.

The Audubon Bird Guide App: A free and comprehensive field guide to North American birds. The app includes 821 species; advanced gallery view for easy comparison and search; field mark call outs; a “Find Birds with eBird” feature powered by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology; and a social community of birders who observe, identify, and share their observations and photos in the mobile app and online. 

The Audubon Guide to North American Birds: an interactive and searchable online guide to the birds of North America. Each bird card features key species information, clear photos, and audio links to the birds' various calls. The bird cards on our site will link you directly to the Audubon guide.

Seward Park Audubon Nature Store: We offer a variety of field guides in our nature store--from waterproof pocket brochures to the encyclopedic Sibley Guide to Bird Life and Behavior. Come in and see which field guide looks and feels best for your birding needs.

Bird Stories

Birdnote: A Seattle-based organization dedicated to telling the stories of the birds. Listen to their audio programs on the radio, online, or by podcast. They also have excellent birding resources on their website.

Birding Communities

Birdweb by Seattle Audubon: an excellent resource for those hoping to learn more about Washington birds. Their website hosts a bird guide, as well as logistical resources concerning parking passes and road conditions to popular birding sites.

eBird Northwest: a website dedicated to engaging birders in citizen science. Submit bird observations and network with a community of birders in the Pacific Northwest.