Birding without Sight

It can be difficult to identify a bird by its appearance, and just as challenging to do so by its song. But birding by ear is a great way to get to know birds. A blind birder in Kitsap County, Washington, was puzzled by a haunting bird song. She thought it might be a special song of the American Robin (seen left here). It turned out instead to be the song of a Swainson’s Thrush (right). To hear the songs of these and other thrushes, visit the Macaulay Library. Here are more birding-by-ear resources. And more!

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