Bird Guides
Species ID guides, backyard how-tos, seasonal birding and gift ideas — written by the Shopwada Field Team.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird: Male vs. Female, Migration & Feeding
The only hummingbird that nests across most of the East weighs less than a nickel and crosses the Gulf of Mexico. Here's how to tell males from females — and when to...
4 min read
Great Horned Owl Call: What It Sounds Like & How to ID This Owl
That deep 'hoo-h'HOO-hoo-hoo' on a winter night is probably a Great Horned Owl. How to recognize its call, when owls hoot, and how to tell it from other owls.
4 min read
Great Blue Heron: Identification, Behavior & Where to See Them
Four feet tall, statue-still, then lightning fast. Everything you need to identify the Great Blue Heron — including the easy flight trick that separates herons from cranes.
4 min read
Eastern Bluebird: How to Identify & Attract Bluebirds
Bluebirds rarely eat seed — which is why so many people never see one at the feeder. Here's how to identify them and what really attracts Eastern Bluebirds.
4 min read
Downy vs. Hairy Woodpecker: How to Tell Them Apart
Same black-and-white suit, same red patch — but one is a third bigger with a much longer bill. Five reliable ways to separate Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers.
4 min read
Common Loon Calls: The Wail, Yodel & Tremolo Explained
The haunting sound of a northern lake at night is actually four different calls. A guide to loon voices, plumage, and how to enjoy loons without disturbing them.
4 min read
Blue Jay Identification: Calls, Colors & Clever Habits
Loud, smart and surprisingly secretive, the Blue Jay is far more than a feeder bully. Field marks, calls, acorn-planting habits and how to tell it from other jays.
4 min read
Black-capped Chickadee: ID, Song & Carolina Chickadee Differences
Tiny, fearless and always busy — here is how to identify the Black-capped Chickadee, decode its famous call, and tell it apart from its Carolina cousin.
4 min read
Birding for Beginners: How to Start Birdwatching (The Easy Way)
You don't need a lot of gear or knowledge to start birding — just curiosity. A beginner's guide to identifying birds, choosing binoculars, free tools and good etiquette.
4 min read
American Goldfinch: Summer vs. Winter Plumage & What They Eat
Where did the yellow birds go? Nowhere — they changed clothes. A guide to American Goldfinch plumage through the year, their late nesting season and favorite foods.
4 min read
Northern Cardinal Identification: Males, Females & Look-Alikes
The red bird at your feeder is easy — but what about the tan one with the orange bill, or the all-red bird with no crest? A field-tested guide to Northern Cardinal...
4 min read
10 Backyard Birds and How to Tell Them Apart
A friendly starter guide to ten backyard favorites — field marks, calls, when to see them and what to feed — plus a quick comparison table.
5 min read