Training Tools
The best training is to get outside and observe and listen to birds in their native habitats. Participate in bird walks offered at nature centers and local birding clubs, or take an ornithology class at your local college. You can hone your skills with the online bird quizzes listed below and online bird guides. Also listed are invaluable field guides and audio CDs you can purchase to help you study.
Field Guide Books
- A Field Guide to Advanced Birding: Birding Challenges and How to Approach Them
- A Field Guide to Warblers of North America
- Hawks in Flight: The Flight Identification of North American Migrant Raptors
- Identify Yourself: The 50 Most Common Birding Identification Challenges
- Kaufman Field Guide to Birds of North America
- National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America
- Peterson Field Guides
- Shorebirds of North America: The Photographic Guide
- Sibley Field Guides
- Stokes Field Guide to Birds: Eastern Region
Audio CDs for Purchase
- Bird Song Ear Training Guide: Who Cooks for Poor Sam Peabody? Learn to Recognize the Songs of Birds from the Midwest and Northeast States
- Stokes Field Guide to Bird Songs
- Peterson Audio Guides
Online Bird Quizzes
- eBird Quiz (photos, songs)
- Birding Quiz (photos; quizzes on birds across the world)
- NatureInstruct - Dendroica (photos, songs - for registered users)
- Eric Haines Bird Quiz (characteristics)
- BirdQUIZ WordPress (photos)
- NHEST Bird Quiz (songs - don't look at the URL; it gives away the answer)
- Crossley Raptors from Above Quiz (photos)
Online Bird Guides
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology, All About Birds
- Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- WhatBird
- NatureInstruct - Dendroica
- BirdWatcher's Digest, Online Bird Guide
- Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
- New York Bird Songs
- The Ultimate Guide to Birdwatching
- Complete Guide to Bird-watching from Your Window
Bird Guide Apps for Phones and Tablets
- Audubon Bird Guide (free)
- Merlin Bird ID (free)
- Raptor ID (free)
- Larkwire Learn Bird Songs (free)
- iBird Pro Guide to Birds (for purchase)
- Sibley Guide (for purchase)
- The Warbler Guide (for purchase)