About Birds and Birding in Wisconsin

AllAboutBirds from Cornell to learn all about any species, includes range maps, identification info and recordings of calls and songs

BirdCast migration maps from Cornell

Cornell Lab Bird Academy many bird identification courses, some are free and some are not. All are good!

eBird, explore hotspots and report sightings. A major worldwide citizen science bird watching site

Lake Michigan Bird Observatory coordinates wildlife MOTUS monitoring and supports numerous conservation and research projects

SOSSaveOurSongbirds a coalition of state birding organizations, UW Green Bay Coffrin Center for Biodiversity and Wisconsin Natural Resources Foundation

WISBIRDN – Wisconsin Bird net a listserv dedicated to Wisconsin birding. Sign up for Wisconsin Bird Network emails for Wisconsin rare birds and locations information

Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin sponsor of spring Birdathon, donor to state bird causes and leader of fabulous statewide field trips.

Wisconsin Bird Conservation Partnership supports joint efforts between birding organizations, government groups, businesses, fishing and hunting groups along with others for the protection of birds

Wisconsin State Parks Birding Updates, Want to see prairie chickens? Snowy owls? Check out their “Find Birds” and subscribe to their newsletter

But What is It?

Audubon Bird Guide App, for comparing bird species, range information and descriptions (free)

Feather Atlas, Found a feather? ID it. (free)

Merlin Bird ID, for when you are not sure what you are looking at or hearing (free)

Seek for plant, fungus, animal ID (free)

Sibley Bird ID, for when you are pretty sure and want confirmation ($)

Field Guides

While these are amazon links, most of these books are also available at Schlitz Audubon and Wehr Nature Center bookstores as well as at Boswell Book Company

Richard Crossley, Bird ID Books photos from every angle in habitats

The Art of Pishing, Pete Dunne includes a CD.

Sparrows and Finches of the Great Lakes Region and Eastern North America by Chris Earley is a great primer for distinguishing between LBJs

Charles Hagner, American Birding Association’s Field Guide to Birds of Wisconsin

Randy Hoffman, When Things Happen: A Guide to Natural Events in Wisconsin A great resource for average migration times, bug emergence, flower blooming, salamander movements and so much more.

David Sibley, What It’s Like to be a Bird: From Flying to Nesting, Eating to Singing, What Birds are Doing and Why an amazing compilation of bird facts and illustrations.

Birds of Wisconsin Field Guide by Stan Tekiela. Helpfully arranged by color

Tom Stephenson and Scott Whittle, The Warbler Guide the everything warbler guide: Found a top or middle of trees? What does it look like from underneath? What might it be confused with? There is also an app!

David Stokes Guides to Bird Behavior, vol I-III A chapter is dedicated to each species covering migration, courting, nesting times along with descriptions of behavior – are they fighting or courting? Really fun insights.

Products

Considerations in choosing a scope or binoculars.